JP2024026152A - Light absorption anisotropic layer, laminate, optical film, image display device and backlight module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light absorption anisotropic layer, a laminate, an optical film, an image display device and a backlight module that contain a dichroic substance, and in which transmittance being seen from a front face is high and transmittance in an oblique direction can be lowered.

SOLUTION: A light absorption anisotropic layer that contains a liquid crystalline compound and at least one kind of dichroic substance, and in which the dichroic substance is arranged in perpendicular to a film surface and a degree of orientation in a wavelength 550nm of the light absorption anisotropic layer is larger than or equal to 0.95, is provided.

SELECTED DRAWING: None

COPYRIGHT: (C)2024,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a light-absorbing anisotropic layer, a laminate, an optical film, an image display device, and a backlight module.

A known technique is to use an anisotropic light absorption layer having an absorption axis in the thickness direction in order to prevent viewing of liquid crystal display devices and to control viewing angles. For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 propose a polarizing element for a viewing angle control system using a film containing a dichroic substance and having an angle of 0 to 45 degrees between the absorption axis and the normal to the film surface.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-145776 International Publication No. 2018/079854

In recent years, there have been issues such as energy saving and the lifespan of organic EL (electroluminescence), and there has been an increasing demand for films that have high transmittance in the front direction relative to the film surface.

An object of the present invention is to provide a light-absorbing anisotropic layer containing a dichroic substance and having high transmittance when viewed from the front and low transmittance when viewed from an oblique direction. do.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a laminate, an optical film, an image display device, and a backlight module.

The present inventors have determined that the degree of orientation at a wavelength of 550 nm of the light absorption anisotropic layer in which the dichroic substance is oriented perpendicularly to the film surface is 0.95 or more, so that the front transmittance is high. In addition, it was discovered that the transmittance in the oblique direction can be lowered, leading to the present invention.

That is, it has been found that the above problem can be solved by the following configuration.

(1) Contains a liquid crystal compound and at least one dichroic substance,
A light absorption anisotropic layer in which a dichroic substance is oriented perpendicularly to the film surface,
A light absorption anisotropic layer having an orientation degree of 0.95 or more at a wavelength of 550 nm.
(2) The light absorption anisotropic layer according to (1), wherein the degree of orientation of the light absorption anisotropic layer at a wavelength of 420 nm is 0.93 or more.
(3) A light-absorbing anisotropic layer having a region A containing a liquid crystal compound and at least one dichroic substance, and a region B having a higher oblique transmittance than region A when viewed from a polar angle of 30°. hand,
The dichroic substance is oriented perpendicular to the membrane surface,
A light absorption anisotropic layer in which the degree of orientation in region A at a wavelength of 550 nm is 0.95 or more.
(4) The light according to (3), wherein the oblique transmittance of region A when viewed from a polar angle of 30° is 10% or less, and the diagonal transmittance of region B when viewed from a polar angle of 30° is 80% or more. Absorption anisotropic layer.
(5) A laminate in which the light-absorbing anisotropic layer according to any one of (1) to (4) and a polarizer layer in which a dichroic substance is oriented horizontally to the film surface are laminated. .
(6) The light absorption anisotropic layer according to any one of (1) to (4) and a polarizer layer in which a liquid crystal compound and a dichroic substance are oriented horizontally to the film surface are laminated. Laminated body.
(7) An optical film having the light-absorbing anisotropic layer according to any one of (1) to (4) or the laminate according to (5) or (6).
(8) An image comprising the light-absorbing anisotropic layer according to any one of (1) to (4), the laminate according to (5) or (6), or the optical film according to (7) Display device.
(9) The image display device according to (8), wherein the display portion has a curved surface portion.
(10) An image display device having a light absorption anisotropic layer according to (3) or (4) and capable of switching viewing angles.
(11) An image display device having a light-absorbing anisotropic layer according to (1) or (2) and capable of switching viewing angles.
(12) From the viewing side, it includes a first light guide plate, an optical filter element, and a second light guide plate,
The optical filter element is the light absorption anisotropic layer according to (1) or (2),
Backlight module that allows you to switch viewing angles.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a light-absorbing anisotropic layer that contains a dichroic substance and has high transmittance when viewed from the front and low transmittance when viewed from an oblique direction.
Further, according to the present invention, a laminate, an optical film, an image display device, and a backlight module can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a backlight module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention will be explained in detail below.
Although the description of the constituent elements described below may be made based on typical embodiments of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments.
Note that in this specification, a numerical range expressed using "~" means a range that includes the numerical values written before and after "~" as the lower limit and upper limit.
Moreover, in this specification, parallel and orthogonal do not mean parallel and orthogonal in the strict sense, but mean a range of ±5° from parallel or orthogonal.
In addition, in this specification, when transmittance is measured by changing the tilt angle (polar angle) and tilt direction (azimuthal angle) with respect to the normal direction of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer, the direction with the highest transmittance is transmitted. When the angle between the transmittance central axis and the film surface of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer (principal surface of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer) is almost perpendicular, the dichroic substance is oriented vertically. It is defined that there is. An orientation in which the angle between the central axis of transmittance and the film surface is perpendicular means an orientation in the range of 70 to 90°, preferably an orientation in the range of 80 to 90°, and an orientation in the range of 85 to 90°. Orientations within this range are more preferred.

Further, in this specification, the term "liquid crystal composition" or "liquid crystal compound" includes a concept that no longer exhibits liquid crystallinity due to curing or the like.

Moreover, in this specification, each component may use one type of substance corresponding to each component, or may use two or more types in combination. Here, when two or more types of substances are used together for each component, the content of the component refers to the total content of the substances used in combination, unless otherwise specified.
Further, in this specification, "(meth)acrylate" is a notation representing "acrylate" or "methacrylate", "(meth)acrylic" is a notation representing "acrylic" or "methacrylic", and "(meth)acrylate" is a notation representing "acrylic" or "methacrylic";(Meth)acryloyl" is a notation representing "acryloyl" or "methacryloyl."

<First embodiment of light absorption anisotropic layer>
The first embodiment of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer of the present invention includes a liquid crystal compound and at least one dichroic substance, and the dichroic substance is present on the film surface (the main surface of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer). ), the degree of orientation of the light absorption anisotropic layer at a wavelength of 550 nm satisfies 0.95 or more.
The degree of orientation of the light absorption anisotropic layer at a wavelength of 550 nm is such that the transmittance when the light absorption anisotropic layer is viewed from the front is higher, and the transmittance when viewed from an oblique direction is higher. A value of 0.96 or more is preferable in that it can be lowered (hereinafter also simply referred to as "a point where the effects of the present invention are more excellent"). The upper limit is not particularly limited, but may be 1.00.

The degree of orientation at the wavelength of 550 nm is calculated by the following method.
The transmittance of the light absorption anisotropic layer at a wavelength of 550 nm is measured using AxoScan OPMF-1 (manufactured by Optoscience). During measurement, the polar angle, which is the angle with respect to the normal direction of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer, was changed in 5° increments from 0 to 60°, and the transmittance at a wavelength of 550 nm at all azimuth angles at each polar angle was measured. Measure. Next, after removing the influence of surface reflection, the transmittance at the azimuthal and polar angles with the highest transmittance is Tm(0), and in the azimuthal direction with the highest transmittance, from the polar angle with the highest transmittance, Furthermore, the transmittance at an angle where the polar angle is tilted by 40 degrees is Tm (40). The absorbance is calculated from the obtained Tm(0) and Tm(40) using the following formula, and A(0) and A(40) are calculated.
A=-log(Tm)
Here, Tm represents transmittance and A represents absorbance.
The degree of orientation S defined by the following formula is calculated from the calculated A(0) and A(40).
S=(4.6×A(40)-A(0))/(4.6×A(40)+2×A(0))

The first embodiment of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer of the present invention has high transmittance in the front direction and low transmittance in the oblique direction. This is presumed to be due to the following reasons.
Lowering the transmittance in the oblique direction can be achieved by increasing the thickness of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer, but at the same time the transmittance in the front direction decreases. It is thought that by setting the degree of orientation of the light absorption anisotropic layer at a wavelength of 550 nm to 0.95 or more, the frequency of existence of dichroic substances whose absorption axes are deviated from the perpendicular direction is reduced. It is presumed that this suppressed absorption by the dichroic substance when the light-absorbing anisotropic layer was viewed from the front, thereby increasing the transmittance in the front direction.

Further, it is preferable that the degree of orientation of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer at a wavelength of 420 nm satisfies 0.93 or more, since the color tone in the front direction can be made neutral. Among these, the degree of orientation at a wavelength of 420 nm is preferably 0.94 or more, since the color in the front direction can be made more neutral. The upper limit is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1.00.
The color of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer containing a dichroic substance is usually controlled by adjusting the amount of the dichroic substance contained in the light-absorbing anisotropic layer. However, it has been found that it is not possible to achieve a neutral color tone in both the front and oblique directions simply by adjusting the amount of the dichroic substance added. It was found that the reason why the color tone in the front direction and diagonal direction cannot be made neutral is that the degree of orientation at the wavelength of 420 nm is low. By increasing the degree of orientation at the wavelength of 420 nm to a high degree, You can make the color tone neutral with the direction.

Examples of the method for calculating the degree of orientation at a wavelength of 420 nm include a method in which the measurement wavelength in the method for calculating the degree of orientation at a wavelength of 550 nm described above is changed from 550 nm to 420 nm.

[Liquid crystal compound]
The light absorption anisotropic layer contains a liquid crystal compound. By including a liquid crystal compound, the dichroic substance can be oriented with a high degree of orientation while suppressing precipitation of the dichroic substance.
A liquid crystal compound is a liquid crystal compound that does not exhibit dichroism.
As the liquid crystal compound, it is possible to use either a low-molecular liquid crystal compound or a high-molecular liquid crystal compound, and it is also preferable to use both in combination. Here, the term "low-molecular liquid crystal compound" refers to a liquid crystal compound that does not have repeating units in its chemical structure. Furthermore, the term "polymer liquid crystal compound" refers to a liquid crystal compound having repeating units in its chemical structure.

Examples of the low-molecular liquid crystal compound include liquid crystal compounds described in JP-A No. 2013-228706. As the low-molecular liquid crystal compound, a liquid crystal compound exhibiting a smectic phase can also be preferably used.

Examples of the polymeric liquid crystalline compound include thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers described in JP-A No. 2011-237513. Further, the polymeric liquid crystal compound preferably has a repeating unit having a crosslinkable group at the end, from the viewpoint that the light absorption anisotropic film has excellent strength (particularly, bending resistance). Examples of the crosslinkable group include the polymerizable groups described in paragraphs [0040] to [0050] of JP-A No. 2010-244038. Among these, from the viewpoint of improving reactivity and synthesis suitability, acryloyl group, methacryloyl group, epoxy group, oxetanyl group, or styryl group is preferable, and acryloyl group or methacryloyl group is more preferable.

When the light-absorbing anisotropic layer in the present invention contains a polymer liquid crystal compound, the polymer liquid crystal compound preferably forms a nematic liquid crystal phase.
The temperature range in which the nematic liquid crystal phase is exhibited is preferably room temperature (23°C) to 450°C, and from the viewpoint of handling and manufacturing suitability, 50 to 400°C is preferable.

The content of the liquid crystalline compound is preferably 25 to 2000 parts by mass, more preferably 100 to 1300 parts by mass, and 200 to 900 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the dichroic substance in the light-absorbing anisotropic layer. Parts by mass are more preferred. When the content of the liquid crystalline compound is within the above range, the degree of orientation of the light absorption anisotropic layer is further improved.
One type of liquid crystal compound may be contained alone, or two or more types may be contained. When two or more types of liquid crystalline compounds are included, the content of the liquid crystalline compounds means the total content of the liquid crystalline compounds.

The liquid crystal compound is preferably a polymeric liquid crystal compound containing a repeating unit represented by the following formula (1L) (hereinafter also referred to as "repeat unit (1L)") from the viewpoint of a better degree of alignment.

In the above formula (1L), P1 represents the main chain of the repeating unit, L1 represents a single bond or a divalent linking group, SP1 represents a spacer group, M1 represents a mesogenic group, and T1 represents a terminal group. .

Specific examples of the main chain of the repeating unit represented by P1 include groups represented by the following formulas (P1-A) to (P1-D). From the viewpoint of diversity and ease of handling, a group represented by the following formula (P1-A) is preferred.

In formulas (P1-A) to (P1-D), "*" represents the bonding position with L1 in formula (1L). In formulas (P1-A) to (P1-D), R ¹ , R ² , R ³ and R ⁴ each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or a C 1 to 10 alkyl group. represents an alkoxy group. The alkyl group may be a linear or branched alkyl group, or may be an alkyl group having a cyclic structure (cycloalkyl group). Further, the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is preferably 1 to 5.
The group represented by formula (P1-A) is preferably one unit of a partial structure of a poly(meth)acrylic ester obtained by polymerization of a (meth)acrylic ester.
The group represented by formula (P1-B) is preferably an ethylene glycol unit formed by ring-opening polymerization of the epoxy group of a compound having an epoxy group.
The group represented by formula (P1-C) is preferably a propylene glycol unit formed by ring-opening polymerization of the oxetane group of a compound having an oxetane group.
The group represented by formula (P1-D) is preferably a siloxane unit of a polysiloxane obtained by polycondensation of a compound having at least one of an alkoxysilyl group and a silanol group. Here, the compound having at least one of an alkoxysilyl group and a silanol group includes a compound having a group represented by the formula SiR ⁴ (OR ⁵ ) ₂ -. In the formula, R ⁴ has the same meaning as R ⁴ in formula (P1-D), and each of the plurality of R ^5s independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

L1 is a single bond or a divalent linking group.
The divalent linking group represented by L1 is -C(O)O-, -OC(O)-, -O-, -S-, -C(O)NR ³ -, -NR ³ C(O) -, -SO ₂ -, and -NR ³ R ⁴ -. In the formula, R ³ and R ⁴ each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a substituent W (described later).
When P1 is a group represented by formula (P1-A), L1 is preferably a group represented by -C(O)O- from the viewpoint of a better degree of orientation.
When P1 is a group represented by formulas (P1-B) to (P1-D), L1 is preferably a single bond from the viewpoint of a better degree of orientation.

The spacer group represented by SP1 is at least one selected from the group consisting of an oxyethylene structure, an oxypropylene structure, a polysiloxane structure, and a fluorinated alkylene structure, from the viewpoint of easy expression of liquid crystallinity and availability of raw materials. Preferably, it includes a species structure.
Here, the oxyethylene structure represented by SP1 is preferably a group represented by *-(CH ₂ -CH ₂ O) _n1 -*. In the formula, n1 represents an integer of 1 to 20, and * represents the bonding position with L1 or M1 in the above formula (1L). n1 is preferably an integer of 2 to 10, more preferably an integer of 2 to 4, and even more preferably 3, from the viewpoint of a better degree of orientation.
Further, the oxypropylene structure represented by SP1 is preferably a group represented by *-(CH(CH ₃ )-CH ₂ O) _n2 -* from the viewpoint of a better degree of orientation. In the formula, n2 represents an integer of 1 to 3, and * represents the bonding position with L1 or M1.
Further, the polysiloxane structure represented by SP1 is preferably a group represented by *-(Si(CH ₃ ) ₂ --O) _n3 --* from the viewpoint of a better degree of orientation. In the formula, n3 represents an integer from 6 to 10, and * represents the bonding position with L1 or M1.
Furthermore, the fluorinated alkylene structure represented by SP1 is preferably a group represented by *-(CF ₂ --CF ₂ ) _n4 --* from the viewpoint of a better degree of orientation. In the formula, n4 represents an integer from 6 to 10, and * represents the bonding position with L1 or M1.

The mesogenic group represented by M1 is a group representing the main skeleton of liquid crystal molecules that contributes to liquid crystal formation. Liquid crystal molecules exhibit liquid crystallinity, which is an intermediate state (mesophase) between a crystalline state and an isotropic liquid state. There are no particular restrictions on the mesogenic group, and for example, the description in "Flussige Kristalle in Tabellen II" (VEB Deutsche Verlag fur Grundstoff Industrie, Leipzig, 1984), especially pages 7 to 16, and LCD Handbook Editorial Committee ed., Liquid Crystal Handbook (Maruzen, published in 2000), especially the description in Chapter 3.
As the mesogenic group, for example, a group having at least one type of cyclic structure selected from the group consisting of an aromatic hydrocarbon group, a heterocyclic group, and an alicyclic group is preferable.
From the viewpoint of a better degree of orientation, the mesogenic group preferably has an aromatic hydrocarbon group, more preferably has 2 to 4 aromatic hydrocarbon groups, and more preferably has 3 aromatic hydrocarbon groups. It is even more preferable.

As the mesogenic group, the following formula (M1-A) or the following formula (M1-B ) is preferable, and a group represented by formula (M1-B) is more preferable.

In formula (M1-A), A1 is a divalent group selected from the group consisting of an aromatic hydrocarbon group, a heterocyclic group, and an alicyclic group. These groups may be substituted with an alkyl group, a fluorinated alkyl group, an alkoxy group, or a substituent W.
The divalent group represented by A1 is preferably a 4- to 6-membered ring. Further, the divalent group represented by A1 may be a monocyclic ring or a condensed ring group.
* represents the binding position with SP1 or T1.

Examples of the divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group represented by A1 include phenylene group, naphthylene group, fluorene-diyl group, anthracene-diyl group, and tetracene-diyl group. From the viewpoint of properties and the like, a phenylene group or a naphthylene group is preferable, and a phenylene group is more preferable.

The divalent heterocyclic group represented by A1 may be either aromatic or non-aromatic, but from the viewpoint of further improving the degree of orientation, a divalent aromatic heterocyclic group is preferable. .
Atoms other than carbon constituting the divalent aromatic heterocyclic group include a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom, and an oxygen atom. When the aromatic heterocyclic group has a plurality of atoms constituting a ring other than carbon, these may be the same or different.
Specific examples of divalent aromatic heterocyclic groups include pyridylene group (pyridine-diyl group), pyridazine-diyl group, imidazole-diyl group, thienylene (thiophene-diyl group), quinolylene group (quinoline-diyl group), etc. ), isoquinolylene group (isoquinoline-diyl group), oxazole-diyl group, thiazole-diyl group, oxadiazole-diyl group, benzothiazole-diyl group, benzothiadiazole-diyl group, phthalimido-diyl group, thienothiazole-diyl group , thiazolothiazole-diyl group, thienothiophene-diyl group, and thienooxazole-diyl group.

Specific examples of the divalent alicyclic group represented by A1 include a cyclopentylene group and a cyclohexylene group.

In formula (M1-A), a1 represents an integer of 1 to 10. When a1 is 2 or more, the plural A1s may be the same or different.

In formula (M1-B), A2 and A3 are each independently a divalent group selected from the group consisting of an aromatic hydrocarbon group, a heterocyclic group, and an alicyclic group. Specific examples and preferred embodiments of A2 and A3 are the same as A1 in formula (M1-A), so their explanation will be omitted.
In formula (M1-B), a2 represents an integer from 1 to 10, and when a2 is 2 or more, multiple A2s may be the same or different, and multiple A3s may be the same or different. Often, multiple LA1s may be the same or different. From the viewpoint of improving the degree of orientation, a2 is preferably an integer of 2 or more, and more preferably 2.
In formula (M1-B), when a2 is 1, LA1 is a divalent linking group. When a2 is 2 or more, the plurality of LA1s are each independently a single bond or a divalent linking group, and at least one of the plurality of LA1s is a divalent linking group. When a2 is 2, it is preferable that one of the two LA1s is a divalent linking group and the other is a single bond, from the viewpoint of a better degree of orientation.

In formula (M1-B), the divalent linking group represented by LA1 includes -O-, -(CH ₂ ) _g -, -(CF ₂ ) _g -, -Si(CH ₃ ) ₂ -, -( Si(CH ₃ ) ₂ O) _g -, -(OSi(CH ₃ ) ₂ ) _g - (g represents an integer from 1 to 10), -N(Z)-, -C(Z)=C( Z')-, -C(Z)=N-, -N=C(Z)-, -C(Z) ₂ -C(Z') ₂ -, -C(O)-, -OC(O) -, -C(O)O-, -O-C(O)O-, -N(Z)C(O)-, -C(O)N(Z)-, -C(Z)=C( Z') -C(O)O-, -O-C(O)-C(Z)=C(Z')-, -C(Z)=N-, -N=C(Z)-, - C(Z)=C(Z')-C(O)N(Z")-,-N(Z")-C(O)-C(Z)=C(Z')-,-C(Z )=C(Z')-C(O)-S-, -S-C(O)-C(Z)=C(Z')-, -C(Z)=N-N=C(Z' )-(Z, Z', Z'' each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, a cyano group, or a halogen atom.), -C≡C -, -N=N-, -S-, -S(O)-, -S(O)(O)-, -(O)S(O)O-, -O(O)S(O)O -, -SC(O)-, and -C(O)S-.Among them, -C(O)O- is preferable from the viewpoint of a better degree of orientation.LA1 is a group of these groups. The group may be a combination of two or more.

Specific examples of M1 include the following structures. In addition, in the following specific examples, "Ac" represents an acetyl group.

The terminal group represented by T1 includes a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, a hydroxy group, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkylthio group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, Alkoxycarbonyloxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, alkoxycarbonyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms (ROC(O)-: R is an alkyl group), acyloxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, acylamino group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms , alkoxycarbonylamino group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, sulfonylamino group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, sulfamoyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, carbamoyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, sulfinyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, carbon Examples include groups containing 1 to 10 ureido groups and (meth)acryloyloxy groups. The (meth)acryloyloxy group-containing group is, for example, -LA (L represents a single bond or a linking group. Specific examples of the linking group are the same as L1 and SP1 described above. A is (meth) (representing an acryloyloxy group).
From the viewpoint of a better degree of orientation, T1 is preferably an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, more preferably an alkoxy group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and even more preferably a methoxy group. These terminal groups may be further substituted with these groups or the above-mentioned crosslinkable groups.
The number of atoms in the main chain of T1 is preferably from 1 to 20, more preferably from 1 to 15, even more preferably from 1 to 10, particularly preferably from 1 to 7, from the viewpoint of a better degree of orientation. When the number of atoms in the main chain of T1 is 20 or less, the degree of orientation of the light absorption anisotropic layer is further improved. Here, the "main chain" in T1 means the longest molecular chain bonded to M1, and hydrogen atoms are not counted in the number of atoms in the main chain of T1. For example, when T1 is an n-butyl group, the number of atoms in the main chain is 4, and when T1 is a sec-butyl group, the number of atoms in the main chain is 3.

The content of the repeating unit (1L) is preferably 20 to 100% by mass based on 100% by mass of all repeating units possessed by the polymeric liquid crystalline compound from the viewpoint of a better degree of orientation.
In the present invention, the content of each repeating unit contained in the polymeric liquid crystal compound is calculated based on the amount (mass) of each monomer used to obtain each repeating unit.
The repeating unit (1L) may be contained singly or in combination of two or more types in the polymeric liquid crystal compound. Among these, it is preferable that two types of repeating units (1L) are contained in the polymeric liquid crystal compound from the viewpoint of improving the degree of orientation.

When the polymeric liquid crystal compound contains two types of repeating units (1L), the terminal group represented by T1 in one (repeat unit A) is an alkoxy group, and in the other (repeat unit B), from the viewpoint of a better degree of orientation. It is preferable that the terminal group represented by T1 is a group other than an alkoxy group.
The terminal group represented by T1 in the above repeating unit B is preferably an alkoxycarbonyl group, a cyano group, or a (meth)acryloyloxy group-containing group, and is preferably an alkoxycarbonyl group or a cyano group. More preferably, it is a group.
The ratio (A/B) between the content of the repeating unit A in the polymeric liquid crystalline compound and the content of the repeating unit B in the polymeric liquid crystalline compound is 50/50 from the viewpoint of a better degree of orientation. The ratio is preferably 95/5 to 95/5, more preferably 60/40 to 93/7, even more preferably 70/30 to 90/10.

Further, the polymeric liquid crystal compound may have a repeating unit that does not have a mesogenic group, as well as the repeating unit (1L). Examples of repeating units having no mesogenic group include repeating units in which M1 in formula (1L) is a single bond.
When the polymeric liquid crystal compound has a repeating unit that does not have a mesogenic group, from the viewpoint of a better degree of orientation, more than 0% by mass and 30% by mass or less with respect to 100% by mass of all repeating units contained in the polymeric liquid crystalline compound. is preferable, and more than 10% by mass and 20% by mass or less is more preferable.

The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the polymeric liquid crystalline compound is preferably 1,000 to 500,000, more preferably 2,000 to 300,000, from the viewpoint of a better degree of orientation. If the Mw of the liquid crystalline polymer compound is within the above range, the liquid crystalline polymer can be easily handled.
In particular, from the viewpoint of suppressing cracks during coating, the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the polymeric liquid crystal compound is preferably 10,000 or more, more preferably 10,000 to 300,000.
Moreover, from the viewpoint of the temperature latitude of the degree of orientation, the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the polymeric liquid crystal compound is preferably less than 10,000, and preferably 2,000 or more and less than 10,000.
Here, the weight average molecular weight and number average molecular weight in the present invention are values measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC).
・Solvent (eluent): N-methylpyrrolidone ・Device name: TOSOH HLC-8220GPC
・Column: 3 TOSOH TSKgelSuperAWM-H (6mm x 15cm) connected together ・Column temperature: 25℃
・Sample concentration: 0.1% by mass
・Flow rate: 0.35mL/min
・Calibration curve: Use the calibration curve of 7 samples of TOSOH TSK standard polystyrene Mw=2800000 to 1050 (Mw/Mn=1.03 to 1.06)

The substituent W in this specification will be explained.
Examples of the substituent W include an alkyl group (preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 12 carbon atoms, even more preferably 1 to 8 carbon atoms, such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, Examples include isopropyl group, tert-butyl group, n-octyl group, n-decyl group, n-hexadecyl group, cyclopropyl group, cyclopentyl group, and cyclohexyl group.), alkenyl group (preferably 2 to 2 carbon atoms) 20, more preferably an alkenyl group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, and even more preferably 2 to 8 carbon atoms, such as a vinyl group, an aryl group, a 2-butenyl group, and a 3-pentenyl group.) , an alkynyl group (preferably an alkynyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 12 carbon atoms, even more preferably 2 to 8 carbon atoms, such as a propargyl group and a 3-pentynyl group) ), an aryl group (preferably an aryl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, more preferably 6 to 20 carbon atoms, even more preferably 6 to 12 carbon atoms, such as phenyl group, 2,6-diethylphenyl group, (3,5-ditrifluoromethylphenyl group, styryl group, naphthyl group, biphenyl group, etc.), substituted or unsubstituted amino group (preferably 0 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 0 to 20 carbon atoms) 10, more preferably an amino group having 0 to 6 carbon atoms, such as an unsubstituted amino group, methylamino group, dimethylamino group, diethylamino group, anilino group, etc.), an alkoxy group (preferably having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 15 carbon atoms, such as methoxy, ethoxy, and butoxy groups, oxycarbonyl groups (preferably having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably has 2 to 15 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and examples thereof include methoxycarbonyl group, ethoxycarbonyl group, and phenoxycarbonyl group.), acyloxy group (preferably 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and It preferably has 2 to 10 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 6 carbon atoms, and includes, for example, an acetoxy group, benzoyloxy group, acryloyl group, and methacryloyl group, and an acylamino group (preferably has 2 to 20 carbon atoms). , more preferably 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and even more preferably 2 to 6 carbon atoms, and examples thereof include an acetylamino group and a benzoylamino group. ), alkoxycarbonylamino group (preferably having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 10 carbon atoms, even more preferably 2 to 6 carbon atoms, such as methoxycarbonylamino group), aryloxy carbonylamino group (preferably has 7 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably has 7 to 16 carbon atoms, still more preferably has 7 to 12 carbon atoms; examples include phenyloxycarbonylamino group), sulfonylamino group ( It preferably has 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and still more preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as methanesulfonylamino group, benzenesulfonylamino group, etc.), sulfamoyl group. (Preferably 0 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 0 to 10 carbon atoms, still more preferably 0 to 6 carbon atoms, such as sulfamoyl group, methylsulfamoyl group, dimethylsulfamoyl group, and phenylsulfamoyl group) ), carbamoyl group (preferably 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, even more preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as unsubstituted carbamoyl group, methyl carbamoyl group, diethylcarbamoyl group, phenylcarbamoyl group, etc.), alkylthio group (preferably carbon number 1 to 20, more preferably carbon number 1 to 10, still more preferably carbon number 1 to 6, Examples include methylthio group, ethylthio group, etc.), arylthio group (preferably 6 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 6 to 16 carbon atoms, even more preferably 6 to 12 carbon atoms, such as phenylthio ), a sulfonyl group (preferably a carbon number of 1 to 20, more preferably a carbon number of 1 to 10, and still more preferably a carbon number of 1 to 6, such as a mesyl group and a tosyl group). ), a sulfinyl group (preferably a carbon number of 1 to 20, more preferably a carbon number of 1 to 10, and still more preferably a carbon number of 1 to 6), such as a methanesulfinyl group and a benzenesulfinyl group. ), a ureido group (preferably having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, even more preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as unsubstituted ureido group, methylureido group, and phenyl ), a phosphoric acid amide group (preferably a carbon number of 1 to 20, more preferably a carbon number of 1 to 10, and even more preferably a carbon number of 1 to 6; for example, a diethyl phosphoamide group, and a phenylphosphoric acid amide group. ), hydroxy group, mercapto group, halogen atom (for example, fluorine atom, chlorine atom, bromine atom, and iodine atom), cyano group, nitro group, hydroxamic acid group, sulfino group, hydrazino group, imino group group, azo group, heterocyclic group (preferably a heterocyclic group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 12 carbon atoms, for example, a heterocyclic group having a heteroatom such as a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, etc.) Examples include epoxy group, oxetanyl group, imidazolyl group, pyridyl group, quinolyl group, furyl group, piperidyl group, morpholino group, maleimide group, benzoxazolyl group, benzimidazolyl group, and benzthiazolyl group. ), a silyl group (preferably a silyl group having 3 to 40 carbon atoms, more preferably 3 to 30 carbon atoms, even more preferably 3 to 24 carbon atoms, such as trimethylsilyl group and triphenylsilyl group) ), a carboxy group, a sulfonic acid group, and a phosphoric acid group.

[Dichroic substance]
The dichroic substances used in the present invention are not particularly limited, and include visible light absorbing substances (dichroic dyes, dichroic azo compounds), luminescent substances (fluorescent substances, phosphorescent substances), ultraviolet absorbing substances, and infrared absorbing substances. , nonlinear optical substances, carbon nanotubes, and inorganic substances (for example, quantum rods), and conventionally known dichroic substances (dichroic dyes) can be used.

A particularly preferably used dichroic substance is a dichroic azo dye compound.
The dichroic azo dye compound is not particularly limited, and conventionally known dichroic azo dyes can be used, but the compounds described below are preferably used.

In the present invention, a dichroic azo dye compound means a dye whose absorbance differs depending on the direction.
The dichroic azo dye compound may or may not exhibit liquid crystallinity.
When the dichroic azo dye compound exhibits liquid crystallinity, it may exhibit either nematic or smectic properties. The temperature range in which the liquid crystal phase is exhibited is preferably room temperature (approximately 20° C. to 28° C.) to 300° C., and more preferably 50° C. to 200° C. from the viewpoint of ease of handling and manufacturing suitability.

In the present invention, from the viewpoint of color adjustment, the light absorption anisotropic layer contains at least one dye compound (hereinafter referred to as "first dichroic azo dye") having a maximum absorption wavelength in the wavelength range of 560 to 700 nm. and at least one type of dye compound (hereinafter also abbreviated as "second dichroic azo dye compound") having a maximum absorption wavelength in the wavelength range of 455 nm or more and less than 560 nm. is preferable, and specifically, it is more preferable to include at least a dichroic azo dye compound represented by formula (1) described below and a dichroic azo dye compound represented by formula (2) described below. .

In the present invention, three or more types of dichroic azo dye compounds may be used in combination. For example, from the viewpoint of making the light absorption anisotropic layer closer to black, a first dichroic azo dye compound and a second dichroic azo dye compound may be used together. A dichroic azo dye compound and at least one dye compound having a maximum absorption wavelength in the wavelength range of 380 nm or more and less than 455 nm (hereinafter also abbreviated as "third dichroic azo dye compound") are used together. It is preferable.

In the present invention, the dichroic azo dye compound preferably has a crosslinkable group from the viewpoint of better pressure resistance.
Specific examples of the crosslinkable group include a (meth)acryloyl group, an epoxy group, an oxetanyl group, and a styryl group, among which a (meth)acryloyl group is preferred.

(First dichroic azo dye compound)
The first dichroic azo dye compound is preferably a compound having a chromophore as a core and a side chain bonded to the terminal of the chromophore.
Specific examples of chromophores include aromatic ring groups (e.g., aromatic hydrocarbon groups, aromatic heterocyclic groups) and azo groups. Preferably, a bisazo structure having an aromatic heterocyclic group (preferably a thienothiazole group) and two azo groups is more preferable.
The side chain is not particularly limited, and includes groups represented by R1, R2, and R3 in formula (1) described below.

The first dichroic azo dye compound is a dichroic azo dye compound having a maximum absorption wavelength in the wavelength range of 560 nm or more and 700 nm or less. A dichroic azo dye compound having a maximum absorption wavelength in the range of 650 nm is preferable, and a dichroic azo dye compound having a maximum absorption wavelength in the wavelength range of 560 to 640 nm is more preferable.
In this specification, the maximum absorption wavelength (nm) of the dichroic azo dye compound is a wavelength of 380 to 800 nm measured by a spectrophotometer using a solution in which the dichroic azo dye compound is dissolved in a good solvent. It is determined from the ultraviolet-visible light spectrum in the range.

In the present invention, the first dichroic azo dye compound is preferably a compound represented by the following formula (1) from the viewpoint of further improving the degree of orientation of the light absorption anisotropic layer to be formed. .

In formula (1), Ar1 and Ar2 each independently represent a phenylene group that may have a substituent or a naphthylene group that may have a substituent, and a phenylene group is preferred.

In formula (1), R1 is a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group which may have a substituent having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group, an alkylthio group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an alkylcarbonyl group, Alkyloxycarbonyl group, acyloxy group, alkylcarbonate group, alkylamino group, acylamino group, alkylcarbonylamino group, alkoxycarbonylamino group, alkylsulfonylamino group, alkylsulfamoyl group, alkylcarbamoyl group, alkylsulfinyl group, alkylureido group, an alkylphosphoamide group, an alkylimino group, or an alkylsilyl group.
-CH ₂ - constituting the above alkyl group is -O-, -CO-, -C(O)-O-, -O-C(O)-, -Si(CH ₃ ) ₂ -O-Si( CH ₃ ) ₂ -, -N(R1')-, -N(R1')-CO-, -CO-N(R1')-, -N(R1')-C(O)-O-, - OC(O)-N(R1')-, -N(R1')-C(O)-N(R1')-, -CH=CH-, -C≡C-, -N=N- , -C(R1')=CH-C(O)-, or -OC(O)-O-.
When R1 is a group other than a hydrogen atom, the hydrogen atom possessed by each group is a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, -N(R1') ₂ , an amino group, -C(R1')=C(R1' )-NO ₂ , -C(R1')=C(R1')-CN, or -C(R1')=C(CN) ₂ .
R1' represents a hydrogen atom or a straight or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. In each group, when a plurality of R1's exist, they may be the same or different from each other.

In formula (1), R2 and R3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group which may have a substituent having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group, an acyl group, an alkyloxy Represents a carbonyl group, an alkylamido group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an aryl group, an arylcarbonyl group, an arylsulfonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, or an arylamido group.
-CH ₂ - constituting the above alkyl group is -O-, -S-, -C(O)-, -C(O)-O-, -O-C(O)-, -C(O) -S-, -S-C(O)-, -Si(CH ₃ ) ₂ -O-Si(CH ₃ ) ₂ -, -NR2'-, -NR2'-CO-, -CO-NR2'-, -NR2'-C(O)-O-, -OC(O)-NR2'-, -NR2'-C(O)-NR2'-, -CH=CH-, -C≡C-, - It may be substituted by N=N-, -C(R2')=CH-C(O)-, or -O-C(O)-O-.
When R2 and R3 are groups other than hydrogen atoms, the hydrogen atoms possessed by each group include halogen atoms, nitro groups, cyano groups, -OH groups, -N(R2') ₂ , amino groups, -C(R2')=C(R2')-NO ₂ , -C(R2')=C(R2')-CN, or -C(R2')=C(CN) ₂ .
R2' represents a hydrogen atom or a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. In each group, when a plurality of R2's exist, they may be the same or different from each other.
R2 and R3 may be combined with each other to form a ring, or R2 or R3 may be combined with Ar2 to form a ring.

From the viewpoint of light resistance, R1 is preferably an electron-withdrawing group, and R2 and R3 are preferably groups with low electron-donating properties.
As specific examples of such groups, R1 includes an alkylsulfonyl group, an alkylcarbonyl group, an alkyloxycarbonyl group, an acyloxy group, an alkylsulfonylamino group, an alkylsulfamoyl group, an alkylsulfinyl group, and an alkylureido group. Examples of R2 and R3 include groups having the following structures. In addition, the group having the following structure is shown in the form containing a nitrogen atom to which R2 and R3 are bonded in the above formula (1).

Specific examples of the first dichroic azo dye compound are shown below, but the invention is not limited thereto.

(Second dichroic azo dye compound)
The second dichroic azo dye compound is a different compound from the first dichroic azo dye compound, and specifically has a different chemical structure.
The second dichroic azo dye compound is preferably a compound having a chromophore, which is the core of the dichroic azo dye compound, and a side chain bonded to the terminal of the chromophore.
Specific examples of chromophores include aromatic ring groups (e.g., aromatic hydrocarbon groups, aromatic heterocyclic groups), azo groups, etc. Structures having both aromatic hydrocarbon groups and azo groups is preferred, and a bisazo or trisazo structure having an aromatic hydrocarbon group and two or three azo groups is more preferred.
The side chain is not particularly limited, and includes groups represented by R4, R5, or R6 in formula (2) described below.

The second dichroic azo dye compound is a dichroic azo dye compound having a maximum absorption wavelength in the wavelength range of 455 nm or more and less than 560 nm. A dichroic azo dye compound having a maximum absorption wavelength in the range of 555 nm is preferable, and a dichroic azo dye compound having a maximum absorption wavelength in the wavelength range of 455 to 550 nm is more preferable.
In particular, if a first dichroic azo dye compound having a maximum absorption wavelength in the range of 560 to 700 nm and a second dichroic azo dye compound having a maximum absorption wavelength in the range of 455 nm or more and less than 560 nm are used. This makes it easier to adjust the color of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer.

The second dichroic azo dye compound is preferably a compound represented by formula (2) from the viewpoint of further improving the degree of orientation of the light absorption anisotropic layer.

In formula (2), n represents 1 or 2.
In formula (2), Ar3, Ar4 and Ar5 each independently represent a phenylene group which may have a substituent, a naphthylene group which may have a substituent, or a hetero compound which may have a substituent. Represents a ring group.
The heterocyclic group may be either aromatic or non-aromatic.
Atoms other than carbon constituting the aromatic heterocyclic group include a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom, and an oxygen atom. When the aromatic heterocyclic group has a plurality of atoms constituting a ring other than carbon, these may be the same or different.
Specific examples of aromatic heterocyclic groups include pyridylene group (pyridine-diyl group), pyridazine-diyl group, imidazole-diyl group, thienylene (thiophene-diyl group), quinolylene group (quinoline-diyl group), and isoquinolylene group. group (isoquinoline-diyl group), oxazole-diyl group, thiazole-diyl group, oxadiazole-diyl group, benzothiazole-diyl group, benzothiadiazole-diyl group, phthalimido-diyl group, thienothiazole-diyl group, thiazolo Examples include thiazole-diyl group, thienothiophene-diyl group, and thienooxazole-diyl group.

In formula (2), the definition of R4 is the same as R1 in formula (1).
In formula (2), the definitions of R5 and R6 are the same as R2 and R3 in formula (1), respectively.

From the viewpoint of light resistance, R4 is preferably an electron-withdrawing group, and R5 and R6 are preferably groups with low electron-donating properties.
Among these groups, specific examples where R4 is an electron-withdrawing group are the same as those where R1 is an electron-withdrawing group, and R5 and R6 are groups with low electron-donating properties. Specific examples in this case are the same as those in the case where R2 and R3 are groups with low electron donating properties.

Specific examples of the second dichroic azo dye compound are shown below, but the invention is not limited thereto.

(difference in logP value)
The logP value is an index expressing the hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties of a chemical structure. The absolute value of the difference between the logP value of the side chain of the first dichroic azo dye compound and the logP value of the side chain of the second dichroic azo dye compound (hereinafter also referred to as "logP difference"). is preferably 2.30 or less, more preferably 2.0 or less, even more preferably 1.5 or less, particularly preferably 1.0 or less. If the logP difference is 2.30 or less, the affinity between the first dichroic azo dye compound and the second dichroic azo dye compound increases, making it easier to form an array structure, so light absorption The degree of orientation of the anisotropic layer is further improved.
In addition, when there are multiple side chains of the first dichroic azo dye compound or the second dichroic azo dye compound, it is preferable that at least one logP difference satisfies the above value.
Here, the side chain of the first dichroic azo dye compound and the second dichroic azo dye compound means a group bonded to the terminal of the chromophore described above. For example, when the first dichroic azo dye compound is a compound represented by formula (1), R1, R2, and R3 in formula (1) are side chains, and the second dichroic azo dye When the compound is a compound represented by formula (2), R4, R5 and R6 in formula (2) are side chains. In particular, when the first dichroic azo dye compound is a compound represented by formula (1) and the second dichroic azo dye compound is a compound represented by formula (2), R1 and R4 The difference in logP value between R1 and R5, the difference in logP value between R2 and R4, and the difference in logP value between R2 and R5, at least one logP difference is greater than the above value. It is preferable to meet the requirements.

Here, the logP value is an index expressing the hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of a chemical structure, and is sometimes called a hydrophilic-hydrophobic parameter. The logP value can be calculated using software such as ChemBioDraw Ultra or HSPiP (Ver. 4.1.07). In addition, OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals, Sections 1, Test No. It can also be determined experimentally by the method of No. 117. In the present invention, unless otherwise specified, a value calculated by inputting the structural formula of a compound into HSPiP (Ver. 4.1.07) is employed as the logP value.

(Third dichroic azo dye compound)
The third dichroic azo dye compound is a dichroic azo dye compound other than the first dichroic azo dye compound and the second dichroic azo dye compound, and specifically, The chemical structure is different from the chromatic azo dye compound and the second dichroic azo dye compound. When the light-absorbing anisotropic layer contains the third dichroic azo dye compound, there is an advantage that the color of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer can be easily adjusted.
The maximum absorption wavelength of the third dichroic azo dye compound is 380 nm or more and less than 455 nm, preferably 385 to 454 nm.

As the third dichroic azo dye compound, a dichroic azo dye represented by the following formula (6) is preferable.

In formula (6), A and B each independently represent a crosslinkable group.
In formula (6), a and b each independently represent 0 or 1. From the viewpoint of having an excellent degree of orientation at a wavelength of 420 nm, both a and b are preferably 0.
In formula (6), when a=0, L ₁ represents a monovalent substituent, and when a=1, L ₁ represents a single bond or a divalent linking group. Further, when b=0, L ₂ represents a monovalent substituent, and when b=1, L ₂ represents a single bond or a divalent linking group.
In formula (6), Ar ₁ represents an (n1+2)-valent aromatic hydrocarbon group or heterocyclic group, Ar ₂ represents an (n2+2)-valent aromatic hydrocarbon group or heterocyclic group, and Ar ₃ represents ( n3+2) represents an aromatic hydrocarbon group or a heterocyclic group.
In formula (6), R ₁ , R ₂ and R ₃ each independently represent a monovalent substituent. When n1≧2, the plurality of _R1s may be the same or different from each other; when n2≧2, the plurality of _R2s may be the same or different from each other; when n3≧2; , a plurality of R ₃ 's may be the same or different from each other.
In formula (6), k represents an integer from 1 to 4. In the case of k≧2, a plurality of Ar ₂ may be the same or different from each other, and a plurality of R ₂ may be the same or different from each other.
In formula (6), n1, n2 and n3 each independently represent an integer of 0 to 4. However, when k=1, n1+n2+n3≧0, and when k≧2, n1+n2+n3≧1.

In formula (6), examples of the crosslinkable groups represented by A and B include the polymerizable groups described in paragraphs [0040] to [0050] of JP-A No. 2010-244038. Among these, from the viewpoint of improving reactivity and synthesis suitability, acryloyl group, methacryloyl group, epoxy group, oxetanyl group, or styryl group is preferable, and from the viewpoint of further improving solubility, acryloyl group or methacryloyl group is preferable. More preferred.

In formula (6), when a=0, L ₁ represents a monovalent substituent, and when a=1, L ₁ represents a single bond or a divalent linking group. Further, when b=0, L ₂ represents a monovalent substituent, and when b=1, L ₂ represents a single bond or a divalent linking group.

The monovalent substituent represented by L ₁ and L ₂ is a group introduced to increase the solubility of a dichroic substance, or an electron-donating or electron-donating group introduced to adjust the color tone of a dye. Groups having attractive properties are preferred.
For example, as a substituent,
Alkyl group (preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 12 carbon atoms, even more preferably 1 to 8 carbon atoms, such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, an isopropyl group, a tert-butyl group, Examples include n-octyl group, n-decyl group, n-hexadecyl group, cyclopropyl group, cyclopentyl group, cyclohexyl group, etc.).
Alkenyl group (preferably an alkenyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 12 carbon atoms, even more preferably 2 to 8 carbon atoms, such as vinyl group, allyl group, 2-butenyl group, 3-pentenyl group) ),
Alkynyl group (preferably an alkynyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 12 carbon atoms, even more preferably 2 to 8 carbon atoms, such as propargyl group, 3-pentynyl group, etc.),
Aryl group (preferably an aryl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, more preferably 6 to 20 carbon atoms, even more preferably 6 to 12 carbon atoms, such as phenyl group, 2,6-diethylphenyl group, 3,5 -ditrifluoromethylphenyl group, naphthyl group, biphenyl group, etc.),
Substituted or unsubstituted amino group (preferably an amino group having 0 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 0 to 10 carbon atoms, even more preferably 0 to 6 carbon atoms; for example, an unsubstituted amino group, a methylamino group, Examples include dimethylamino group, diethylamino group, and anilino group.)
Alkoxy group (preferably has 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 15 carbon atoms, examples include methoxy group, ethoxy group, and butoxy group),
Oxycarbonyl group (preferably has 2 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 15 carbon atoms, and even more preferably 2 to 10 carbon atoms; examples thereof include methoxycarbonyl group, ethoxycarbonyl group, and phenoxycarbonyl group). ),
Acyloxy group (preferably has 2 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 10 carbon atoms, still more preferably 2 to 6 carbon atoms, examples include acetoxy group and benzoyloxy group),
Acylamino group (preferably has 2 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 10 carbon atoms, even more preferably 2 to 6 carbon atoms, examples include acetylamino group and benzoylamino group),
Alkoxycarbonylamino group (preferably has 2 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and still more preferably has 2 to 6 carbon atoms, such as a methoxycarbonylamino group),
Aryloxycarbonylamino group (preferably has 7 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably has 7 to 16 carbon atoms, and still more preferably has 7 to 12 carbon atoms; examples include phenyloxycarbonylamino group),
A sulfonylamino group (preferably a carbon number of 1 to 20, more preferably a carbon number of 1 to 10, and still more preferably a carbon number of 1 to 6), such as a methanesulfonylamino group and a benzenesulfonylamino group. ),
Sulfamoyl group (preferably 0 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 0 to 10 carbon atoms, even more preferably 0 to 6 carbon atoms, such as sulfamoyl group, methylsulfamoyl group, dimethylsulfamoyl group, and phenylsulfamoyl group, etc.),
Carbamoyl group (preferably 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, even more preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as unsubstituted carbamoyl group, methylcarbamoyl group, diethylcarbamoyl group, and phenyl Examples include carbamoyl groups.)
Alkylthio group (preferably 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, even more preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, examples include methylthio group and ethylthio group),
Arylthio group (preferably has 6 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably has 6 to 16 carbon atoms, and still more preferably has 6 to 12 carbon atoms; examples include phenylthio group),
Sulfonyl group (preferably 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, even more preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, examples include mesyl group, tosyl group, etc.),
Sulfinyl group (preferably 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, even more preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms; examples include methanesulfinyl group and benzenesulfinyl group),
A ureido group (preferably a carbon number of 1 to 20, more preferably a carbon number of 1 to 10, and still more preferably a carbon number of 1 to 6; for example, an unsubstituted ureido group, a methylureido group, a phenylureido group, etc.) ),
Phosphoramide group (preferably 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, even more preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as diethyl phosphoamide group and phenyl phosphoamide group) ),
Heterocyclic group (preferably a heterocyclic group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 12 carbon atoms, for example, a heterocyclic group having heteroatoms such as a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom, and a sulfur atom, for example , imidazolyl group, pyridyl group, quinolyl group, furyl group, piperidyl group, morpholino group, benzoxazolyl group, benzimidazolyl group, benzthiazolyl group, etc.),
A silyl group (preferably a silyl group having 3 to 40 carbon atoms, more preferably 3 to 30 carbon atoms, and even more preferably 3 to 24 carbon atoms, such as a trimethylsilyl group, a triphenylsilyl group, etc.). ),
Halogen atoms (for example, fluorine atoms, chlorine atoms, bromine atoms, iodine atoms, etc.),
A hydroxy group, a mercapto group, a cyano group, a nitro group, a hydroxamic acid group, a sulfino group, a hydrazino group, an imino group, an azo group, and the like can be used.
These substituents may be further substituted with other substituents. Furthermore, when two or more substituents are present, they may be the same or different. Further, if possible, they may be bonded to each other to form a ring.
Examples of the group in which the above substituent is further substituted with the above substituent include an R _B -(O-R _A ) _na - group, which is a group in which an alkoxy group is substituted with an alkyl group. Here, in the formula, R _A represents an alkylene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R _B represents an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and na is 1 to 10 (preferably 1 to 5, more preferably 1 ~3) represents an integer.
Among these, monovalent substituents represented by L ₁ and L ₂ include alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkoxy groups, and groups further substituted with these groups (for example, the above-mentioned R _B -(O-R _A ) _na - group), and alkyl groups, alkoxy groups, and groups further substituted with these groups (for example, the above-mentioned R _B -(O-R _A ) _na - group) is more preferred.

Examples of the divalent linking group represented by L ₁ and L ₂ include -O-, -S-, -CO-, -COO-, -OCO-, -O-CO-O-, -CO-NR _N -, -O-CO-NR _N -, -NR _N -CO-NR _N -, -SO ₂ -, -SO-, alkylene group, cycloalkylene group, alkenylene group, and two of these groups Examples include groups combining the above.
Among these, a group combining an alkylene group and one or more groups selected from the group consisting of -O-, -COO-, -OCO- and -O-CO-O- is preferred.
Here, _RN represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group. When a plurality of _RNs exist, the plurality of _RNs may be the same or different from each other.

From the viewpoint of further improving the solubility of the dichroic substance, the number of atoms in the main chain of at least one of L ₁ and L ₂ is preferably 3 or more, more preferably 5 or more. The number is preferably 7 or more, more preferably 10 or more. Further, the upper limit of the number of atoms in the main chain is preferably 20 or less, more preferably 12 or less.
On the other hand, from the viewpoint of further improving the degree of orientation of the light absorption anisotropic layer, the number of atoms in the main chain of at least one of L ₁ and L ₂ is preferably 1 to 5.
Here, when A in formula (6) exists, the "main chain" in L ₁ is the "main chain" that is necessary to directly connect the "O" atom that connects with L ₁ and "A". The term "number of atoms in the main chain" refers to the number of atoms constituting the above-mentioned part. Similarly, when B in formula (6) exists, the "main chain" in _L2 is the "main chain" that is necessary to directly connect the "O" atom that connects with _L2 and "B". The term "number of atoms in the main chain" refers to the number of atoms constituting the above-mentioned part. Note that the "number of atoms in the main chain" does not include the number of atoms in the branched chain, which will be described later.
Furthermore, when A does not exist, the "number of atoms in the main chain" in L ₁ refers to the number of atoms in L ₁ that does not include a branched chain. When B does not exist, the "number of atoms in the main chain" in L ₂ refers to the number of atoms in L ₂ that does not include branched chains.
Specifically, in the following formula (D1), the number of atoms in the main chain of L ₁ is 5 (the number of atoms within the dotted line frame on the left side of the following formula (D1)), and the number of atoms in the main chain of L ₂ is 5 (the number of atoms within the dotted line frame on the left side of the following formula (D1)) The number of atoms is 5 (the number of atoms within the dotted line frame on the right side of formula (D1) below). In addition, in the following formula (D10), the number of atoms in the main chain of L ₁ is 7 (the number of atoms within the dotted line frame on the left side of the following formula (D10)), and the number of atoms in the main chain of L ₂ is 7 The number is 5 (the number of atoms within the dotted line frame on the right side of the following formula (D10)).

L ₁ and L ₂ may have a branched chain.
Here, when A exists in formula (6), the "branched chain" in L ₁ means a direct connection between "A" and the "O" atom connected to L ₁ in formula (6). refers to parts other than those necessary for the purpose of Similarly, when B exists in formula (6), the "branched chain" in _L2 means a direct connection between the "O" atom connected to _L2 in formula (6) and "B". refers to parts other than those necessary for the purpose of
Furthermore, when A does not exist in formula (6), the "branched chain" in L ₁ means the longest atomic chain (i.e., the main chain) extending from the "O" atom connected to L ₁ in formula (6). chain). Similarly, when B does not exist in formula (6), the "branched chain" in L ₂ means the longest atomic chain extending from the "O" atom connected to L ₂ in formula (6) (i.e. This refers to the parts other than the main chain).
The number of atoms in the branched chain is preferably 3 or less. When the number of branched atoms is 3 or less, there is an advantage that the degree of orientation of the light absorption anisotropic layer is further improved. Note that the number of branched chain atoms does not include the number of hydrogen atoms.

In formula (6), Ar ₁ is (n1+2) valent (for example, trivalent when n1 is 1), Ar ₂ is (n2+2) valent (for example, trivalent when n2 is 1), and Ar ₃ represents an aromatic hydrocarbon group or a heterocyclic group with a valence of (n3+2) (for example, when n3 is 1, it is trivalent). Here, Ar ₁ to Ar ₃ can each be replaced with a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group or a divalent heterocyclic group substituted with n1 to n3 substituents (R ₁ to R ₃ described later).
The divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group represented by Ar ₁ to Ar ₃ may be monocyclic or may have a condensed ring structure of two or more rings. The number of rings of the divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group is preferably 1 to 4, more preferably 1 to 2, and even more preferably 1 (that is, it is a phenylene group) from the viewpoint of further improving solubility.
Specific examples of divalent aromatic hydrocarbon groups include phenylene group, azulene-diyl group, naphthylene group, fluorene-diyl group, anthracene-diyl group, and tetracene-diyl group, which further improves solubility. From this viewpoint, a phenylene group or a naphthylene group is preferable, and a phenylene group is more preferable.
Specific examples of the third dichroic dye compound are shown below, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, in the following specific examples, n represents an integer of 1 to 10.

In terms of the excellent degree of orientation at 420 nm, it is preferable that the third dichroic azo dye compound does not have a radically polymerizable group. Examples include the following structures.

The third dichroic azo dye compound is preferably a dichroic substance having a structure represented by the following formula (1-1), since it has a particularly excellent degree of orientation at 420 nm.

In formula (1-1), R ₁ , R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ , n1, n3, L ₁ and L ₂ are respectively defined as R ₁ , R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ in formula (1) , n1, n3, L ₁ and L ₂ .
In formula (1-1), R ₂₁ and R ₂₂ are each independently defined as R ₂ in formula (1).
In formula (1-1), n21 and n22 are each independently defined as n2 in formula (1).
n1+n21+n22+n3≧1, and n1+n21+n22+n3 is preferably from 1 to 9, more preferably from 1 to 5.

Specific examples of dichroic substances are shown below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The content of the dichroic substance is preferably 10 to 30% by mass, more preferably 15 to 30% by mass, even more preferably 18 to 28% by mass, and even more preferably 20 to 30% by mass, based on the total mass of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer. 26% by weight is particularly preferred. If the content of the dichroic substance is within the above range, a light-absorbing anisotropic layer with a high degree of orientation can be obtained even when the light-absorbing anisotropic layer is formed into a thin film. Therefore, it is easy to obtain a light absorption anisotropic layer with excellent flexibility.
The content of the first dichroic azo dye compound is preferably 40 to 90 parts by weight, and preferably 45 to 75 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the entire dichroic substance in the light-absorbing anisotropic layer. is more preferable.
The content of the second dichroic azo dye compound is preferably 6 to 50 parts by mass, and 8 to 35 parts by mass, based on 100 parts by mass of the entire dichroic substance in the light-absorbing anisotropic layer. More preferred.
The content of the third dichroic azo dye compound is preferably 3 to 35 parts by weight, and preferably 5 to 35 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the dichroic azo dye compound in the light-absorbing anisotropic layer. is more preferable.
The content ratio of the first dichroic azo dye compound, the second dichroic azo dye compound, and the third dichroic azo dye compound used as necessary is determined based on the light absorption anisotropy. It can be set arbitrarily to adjust the color tone of the layer. However, the content ratio of the second dichroic azo dye compound to the first dichroic azo dye compound (second dichroic azo dye compound/first dichroic azo dye compound) is expressed in molar terms. , preferably from 0.1 to 10, more preferably from 0.1 to 2, even more preferably from 0.1 to 0.5. If the content ratio of the second dichroic azo dye compound to the first dichroic azo dye compound is within the above range, the degree of orientation will be increased.

The light-absorbing anisotropic layer in the present invention can be produced using, for example, a composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer containing the above liquid crystalline compound and a dichroic substance.
The composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer may contain components other than the liquid crystal compound and the dichroic substance, such as a solvent, a vertical alignment agent, an interface modifier, a polymerizable component, and a polymerization initiator. agents (for example, radical polymerization initiators), and the like. In this case, the light absorption anisotropic layer in the present invention contains a solid component other than a liquid component (such as a solvent).

As the interface improver, the interface improvers described in the Examples section below can be used.
When the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer contains an interface modifier, the content of the interface modifier is determined based on the amount of the dichroic substance and the liquid crystal compound in the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer. It is preferably 0.001 to 5 parts by weight based on a total of 100 parts by weight.

Examples of the polymerizable component include compounds containing acrylate (eg, acrylate monomer). In this case, the light absorption anisotropic layer in the present invention contains a polyacrylate obtained by polymerizing a compound containing the above-mentioned acrylate.
Examples of the polymerizable component include compounds described in paragraph [0058] of JP-A No. 2017-122776.
When the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer contains a polymerizable component, the content of the polymerizable component is determined based on the amount of the dichroic substance and the liquid crystal compound in the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer. It is preferably 3 to 20 parts by weight based on a total of 100 parts by weight.

When using a liquid crystal compound, for example, by using the guest-host liquid crystal cell technology, the dichroic substance molecules can be aligned in the desired orientation as described above in association with the alignment of the host liquid crystal. Specifically, a dichroic substance serving as a guest and a liquid crystalline compound serving as a host liquid crystal are mixed, and the host liquid crystal is aligned, and the molecules of the dichroic substance are aligned along the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules. By fixing the orientation state, the light absorption anisotropic layer according to the present invention can be produced.

In order to prevent variations in the light absorption properties of the light absorption anisotropic layer in the present invention due to the usage environment, it is preferable to fix the orientation of the dichroic substance by forming chemical bonds. For example, the alignment can be fixed by advancing the polymerization of the host liquid crystal, the dichroic substance, or a polymerizable component added as desired.

Furthermore, a guest-host liquid crystal cell itself having a liquid crystal layer containing at least a dichroic substance and a liquid crystal compound (host liquid crystal) on a pair of substrates may be used as the light-absorbing anisotropic layer in the present invention. . The orientation of the host liquid crystal (and the accompanying orientation of the dichroic substance) can be controlled by an alignment film formed on the inner surface of the substrate, and the orientation state is maintained unless external stimulation such as an electric field is applied. The light absorption characteristics of the light absorption anisotropic layer in the present invention can be made constant.

[Vertical alignment agent]
Vertical alignment agents include boronic acid compounds and onium salts.

As the boronic acid compound, a compound represented by formula (30) is preferable.

Formula (30)

In formula (30), R ¹ and R ² each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group. represent.
R ³ represents a substituent containing a (meth)acrylic group.
Specific examples of the boronic acid compound include boronic acid compounds represented by the general formula (I) described in paragraphs [0023] to [0032] of JP-A No. 2008-225281.
As the boronic acid compound, the compounds exemplified below are also preferred.

As the onium salt, a compound represented by formula (31) is preferred.

Formula (31)

In formula (31), ring A represents a quaternary ammonium ion consisting of a nitrogen-containing heterocycle. X ⁻ represents an anion. L ¹ represents a divalent linking group. L ² represents a single bond or a divalent linking group. Y ¹ represents a divalent linking group having a 5- or 6-membered ring as a partial structure. Z represents a divalent linking group having 2 to 20 alkylene groups as a partial structure. P ¹ and P ² each independently represent a monovalent substituent having a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated bond.
Specific examples of onium salts include the onium salts described in paragraphs [0052] to [0058] of JP2012-208397A, and the onium salts described in paragraphs [0024] to [0055] of JP2008-026730A. salts and onium salts described in JP-A-2002-037777.

The content of the vertical alignment agent in the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer (light-absorbing anisotropic layer) is preferably 0.1 to 400% by mass, and 0.5% by mass based on the total mass of the liquid crystal compound. More preferably 350% by mass.
The vertical alignment agents may be used alone or in combination of two or more. When two or more types of vertical alignment agents are used, the total amount thereof is preferably within the above range.

[Leveling agent suitable for vertical alignment]
The composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer (light-absorbing anisotropic layer) preferably contains the following leveling agent. When the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer (light-absorbing anisotropic layer) contains a leveling agent, it suppresses surface roughness caused by dry wind on the surface of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer, and the dichroic material are oriented more uniformly.
The leveling agent is not particularly limited, and a leveling agent containing a fluorine atom (fluorine-based leveling agent) or a leveling agent containing a silicon atom (silicon-based leveling agent) is preferable, and a fluorine-based leveling agent is more preferable.

Examples of the fluorine-based leveling agent include fatty acid esters of polyhydric carboxylic acids in which part of the fatty acids are substituted with fluoroalkyl groups, and polyacrylates having fluoro substituents. In particular, when using a rod-like compound as a dichroic substance and a liquid crystal compound, from the viewpoint of promoting vertical alignment of the dichroic substance and liquid crystal compound, leveling containing repeating units derived from the compound represented by formula (40) Agents are preferred.

Formula (40)

R ⁰ represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a methyl group.
L represents a divalent linking group. L is preferably an alkylene group having 2 to 16 carbon atoms, and any non-adjacent -CH ₂ - in the alkylene group is substituted with -O-, -COO-, -CO-, or -CONH-. It's okay.
n represents an integer from 1 to 18.

The leveling agent having repeating units derived from the compound represented by formula (40) may further contain other repeating units.
Other repeating units include repeating units derived from the compound represented by formula (41).

Formula (41)

R ¹¹ represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a methyl group.
X represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or -N(R ¹³ )-. R ¹³ represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms.
R ¹² represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group that may have a substituent, or an aromatic group that may have a substituent. The number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is preferably 1 to 20. The alkyl group may be linear, branched, or cyclic.
Furthermore, examples of the substituent that the alkyl group may have include a poly(alkyleneoxy) group and a polymerizable group. The definition of the polymerizable group is as described above.

When the leveling agent contains a repeating unit derived from the compound represented by formula (40) and a repeating unit derived from the compound represented by formula (41), a repeating unit derived from the compound represented by formula (40) The content of is preferably 10 to 90 mol%, more preferably 15 to 95 mol%, based on all repeating units contained in the leveling agent.
When the leveling agent contains a repeating unit derived from the compound represented by formula (40) and a repeating unit derived from the compound represented by formula (41), a repeating unit derived from the compound represented by formula (41) The content is preferably 10 to 90 mol%, more preferably 5 to 85 mol%, based on all repeating units contained in the leveling agent.

Further, examples of the leveling agent include a leveling agent containing a repeating unit derived from the compound represented by formula (42) instead of the repeating unit derived from the compound represented by formula (40) described above.

Formula (42)

R ² represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a methyl group.
L ² represents a divalent linking group.
n represents an integer from 1 to 18.

Specific examples of leveling agents include compounds exemplified in paragraphs [0046] to [0052] of JP-A No. 2004-331812, and compounds described in paragraphs [0038] to [0052] of JP-A-2008-257205. The following compounds are mentioned.

The content of the leveling agent in the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer (light-absorbing anisotropic layer) is preferably 0.001 to 10% by mass, and 0.01 to 10% by mass based on the total mass of the liquid crystal compound. 5% by mass is more preferred.
The leveling agents may be used alone or in combination of two or more. When two or more types of leveling agents are used, the total amount thereof is preferably within the above range.

[Polymerization initiator]
The composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer preferably contains a polymerization initiator.
The polymerization initiator is not particularly limited, but it is preferably a photosensitive compound, that is, a photopolymerization initiator.
As the photopolymerization initiator, various compounds can be used without particular limitation. Examples of photopolymerization initiators include α-carbonyl compounds (US Pat. Nos. 2,367,661 and 2,367,670), asiloin ether (US Pat. No. 2,448,828), and α-hydrocarbon-substituted aromatic acyloins. compound (US Pat. No. 2,722,512), polynuclear quinone compound (US Pat. No. 3,046,127 and US Pat. No. 2,951,758), combination of triarylimidazole dimer and p-aminophenyl ketone (US Pat. No. 3,549,367) ), acridine and phenazine compounds (JP-A-60-105667 and US Pat. No. 4,239,850), oxadiazole compounds (US Pat. No. 4,212,970), o-acyl oxime compounds (JP-A-2016- No. 027384, paragraph [0065]), and acylphosphine oxide compounds (Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-40799, Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-029234, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-095788, and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-029997). Can be mentioned.
Commercially available products can be used as such photopolymerization initiators, such as Irgacure-184, Irgacure-907, Irgacure-369, Irgacure-651, Irgacure-819, Irgacure-OXE-01 and Irgacure-01 manufactured by BASF. Examples include OXE-02.

When the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer contains a polymerization initiator, the content of the polymerization initiator is determined based on the amount of the dichroic substance and the liquid crystal compound in the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer. It is preferably 0.01 to 30 parts by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 15 parts by weight, based on a total of 100 parts by weight. When the content of the polymerization initiator is 0.01 parts by mass or more, the durability of the light-absorbing anisotropic film is improved, and when the content is 30 parts by mass or less, the degree of orientation of the light-absorbing anisotropic film is improved. It will be better.
The polymerization initiators may be used alone or in combination of two or more. When two or more types of polymerization initiators are included, the total amount thereof is preferably within the above range.

[solvent]
The composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer preferably contains a solvent from the viewpoint of workability and the like.
Examples of solvents include ketones (such as acetone, 2-butanone, methyl isobutyl ketone, cyclopentanone, and cyclohexanone), ethers (such as dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, cyclopentyl methyl ether, and tetrahydrofuran). pyran, dioxolane, etc.), aliphatic hydrocarbons (e.g., hexane, etc.), alicyclic hydrocarbons (e.g., cyclohexane, etc.), aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., benzene, toluene, xylene, and trimethyl benzene, etc.), halogenated carbons (e.g., dichloromethane, trichloromethane, dichloroethane, dichlorobenzene, and chlorotoluene, etc.), esters (e.g., methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, and ethyl lactate, etc.), alcohols (e.g., ethanol, isopropanol, butanol, cyclohexanol, isopentyl alcohol, neopentyl alcohol, diacetone alcohol, benzyl alcohol, etc.), cellosolves (e.g., methyl cellosolve, ethyl cellosolve, and 1,2-dimethoxy ethane, etc.), cellosolve acetates, sulfoxides (e.g., dimethyl sulfoxide), amides (e.g., dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, and N-ethylpyrrolidone, etc.), and heterocyclic compounds (e.g., , pyridine, etc.), and water. These solvents may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
Among these solvents, ketones (especially cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone), ethers (especially tetrahydrofuran, cyclopentyl methyl ether, tetrahydropyran, and dioxolane), and amides (especially dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, N- Methylpyrrolidone and N-ethylpyrrolidone) are preferred.
When the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer contains a solvent, the content of the solvent is preferably 80 to 99% by mass, and 83 to 98% by mass based on the total mass of the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer. % by mass is more preferred, and 85 to 96% by mass is even more preferred.
When two or more types of solvents are included, the content of the above-mentioned solvents means the total content of the solvents.

<Method for forming light absorption anisotropic layer>
The method for forming the light-absorbing anisotropic layer is not particularly limited, and includes a step of applying the above-described composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer to form a coating film (hereinafter also referred to as "coating film forming step"). and a step of orienting the liquid crystal component contained in the coating film (hereinafter also referred to as "orientation step"), in this order.
Note that the liquid crystal component is a component that includes not only the above-mentioned liquid crystal compound but also a dichroic substance having liquid crystallinity when the above-mentioned dichroic substance has liquid crystallinity.
The light-absorbing anisotropic layer is preferably a layer obtained using a composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer, and is a layer obtained using a composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer. It is more preferable to use a layer obtained by performing a curing treatment (cured layer).

[Coating film formation process]
The coating film forming step is a step of applying a composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer to form a coating film.
By using a light-absorbing anisotropic layer-forming composition containing the above-mentioned solvent, or by heating the light-absorbing anisotropic layer-forming composition to form a liquid such as a melt, light It becomes easy to apply the composition for forming an absorption anisotropic layer.
In addition, it is preferable that the content of various components contained in the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer is adjusted so as to be the content of each component in the light-absorbing anisotropic layer described above.
Specifically, the method for applying the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer includes, for example, a roll coating method, a gravure printing method, a spin coating method, a wire bar coating method, an extrusion coating method, a direct gravure coating method, and a reverse coating method. Known methods include gravure coating method, die coating method, spray method, and inkjet method.

[Orientation process]
The alignment process is a process of aligning the liquid crystal component contained in the coating film. As a result, a light absorption anisotropic layer is obtained.
The orientation process may include a drying process. Components such as solvents can be removed from the coating film by the drying process. The drying treatment may be performed by leaving the coating film at room temperature for a predetermined period of time (for example, natural drying), or by heating and/or blowing air.
Here, the liquid crystal component contained in the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer may be oriented by the above-mentioned coating film forming step or drying treatment. For example, in an embodiment where the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer is prepared as a coating solution containing a solvent, by drying the coating film and removing the solvent from the coating film, the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer can be formed. A coating film (ie, a light-absorbing anisotropic film) is obtained.
When the drying treatment is performed at a temperature equal to or higher than the transition temperature of the liquid crystal component contained in the coating film to the liquid crystal phase, the heat treatment described below may not be performed.

The transition temperature of the liquid crystal component contained in the coating film to the liquid crystal phase is preferably 10 to 250°C, more preferably 25 to 190°C, from the viewpoint of manufacturing suitability. When the transition temperature is 10° C. or higher, there is no need for cooling treatment to lower the temperature to a temperature range in which a liquid crystal phase is exhibited, which is preferable. Furthermore, if the above transition temperature is 250°C or lower, high temperatures are not required even when the temperature range is higher than the temperature range in which the liquid crystal phase is exhibited, and the temperature is higher than that of the isotropic liquid state, which results in wasted thermal energy and damage to the substrate. This is preferable because deformation, alteration, etc. can be reduced.

Preferably, the orientation step includes heat treatment. Thereby, the liquid crystal component contained in the coating film can be oriented, so that the coating film after the heat treatment can be suitably used as a light-absorbing anisotropic film.
The heat treatment is preferably performed at 10 to 250°C, more preferably from 25 to 190°C, from the viewpoint of manufacturing suitability. Further, the heating time is preferably 1 to 300 seconds, more preferably 1 to 60 seconds.

The orientation step may include a cooling treatment performed after the heat treatment. The cooling treatment is a treatment in which the coated film after heating is cooled to about room temperature (20 to 25° C.). Thereby, the orientation of the liquid crystal component contained in the coating film can be fixed. The cooling means is not particularly limited, and any known method can be used.
Through the above steps, a light absorption anisotropic film can be obtained.
In this embodiment, drying treatment, heat treatment, and the like are mentioned as methods for aligning the liquid crystal component contained in the coating film, but the method is not limited thereto, and any known alignment treatment can be used.

[Other processes]
The method for forming the light-absorbing anisotropic layer may include a step of curing the light-absorbing anisotropic layer (hereinafter also referred to as "curing step") after the orientation step.
For example, when the light-absorbing anisotropic layer has a crosslinkable group (polymerizable group), the curing step is performed by heating and/or light irradiation (exposure). Among these, it is preferable that the curing step is carried out by light irradiation.
Various light sources can be used for curing, including infrared rays, visible light, and ultraviolet rays, but ultraviolet rays are preferred. Moreover, ultraviolet rays may be irradiated while heating during curing, or ultraviolet rays may be irradiated through a filter that transmits only a specific wavelength.
When the exposure is performed while heating, the heating temperature during the exposure is preferably 25 to 140° C., although it depends on the transition temperature of the liquid crystal component contained in the liquid crystal film to the liquid crystal phase.
Further, the exposure may be performed under a nitrogen atmosphere. When curing of the liquid crystal film progresses by radical polymerization, it is preferable to perform exposure under a nitrogen atmosphere because inhibition of polymerization by oxygen is reduced.

The thickness of the light absorption anisotropic layer is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of flexibility when the laminate of the present invention described later is used in a polarizing element, it is preferably 100 to 8000 nm, and preferably 300 to 5000 nm. It is more preferable that there be.

<Second embodiment of light absorption anisotropic layer>
The second embodiment of the light absorption anisotropic layer of the present invention has a region A containing a liquid crystal compound and at least one dichroic substance, and a region A that has a higher oblique transmittance than the region A when viewed from a polar angle of 30°. A light-absorbing anisotropic layer having a region B, in which the dichroic substance is oriented perpendicularly to the film surface (main surface of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer), and the degree of orientation at a wavelength of 550 nm in region A. is 0.95 or more.
The second embodiment of the light absorption anisotropic layer has two regions, region A and region B, in the in-plane direction. Region A has the same configuration as the first embodiment of the light absorption anisotropic layer described above. That is, region A contains the above-mentioned liquid crystal compound and dichroic substance. Further, in region A, the dichroic substance is oriented perpendicularly to the film surface, and region A exhibits a predetermined degree of orientation.
Region B has a higher oblique transmittance than region A when viewed from a polar angle of 30°. In other words, when comparing the oblique transmittance of area A viewed from a polar angle of 30° and the oblique transmittance of area B viewed from a polar angle of 30°, the oblique transmittance of area B viewed from a polar angle of 30° is It's more expensive.
The above-mentioned oblique transmittance means the transmittance at a wavelength of 550 nm.
Region B may be a space, or, like region A, may be a region containing a liquid crystal compound. Region B may contain a dichroic substance, but as described above, the content of the dichroic substance is adjusted so that region A and region B satisfy a predetermined transmittance relationship. Ru. The content of the dichroic substance in region B is preferably 3% by mass or less, more preferably 1% by mass or less, and even more preferably 0% by mass, based on the total mass of region B.

The diagonal transmittance of region A viewed from a polar angle of 30° is preferably 10% or less, and the diagonal transmittance of region B viewed from a polar angle of 30° is preferably 80% or more.

In the second embodiment of the light absorption anisotropic layer, it is possible to strengthen or weaken the viewing angle dependence (of polarization) in some regions. This makes it possible to display highly confidential information only in areas with increased viewing angle dependence. Further, by freely controlling the viewing angle dependence of the display device, it is possible to design the display device with excellent design. In order to prevent light leakage from the light emitting part to the surrounding area in a display device such as a micro LED (light emitting diode), patterning is performed such that the area other than the light emitting part is the area B, and the light emitting part is the area A. It is also possible to increase the contrast between light and dark on the screen.

Note that the positions of region A and region B in the light-absorbing anisotropic layer are not particularly limited, and can be appropriately located depending on the purpose of use. For example, regions A and B may be arranged alternately in stripes, or a part of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer may be set as region B, and all other regions may be set as region A.

The method for forming the second embodiment of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer is not particularly limited, and various known methods such as those described in WO2019/176918 can be used. Examples include a method of controlling the thickness of a light absorption anisotropic layer in-plane, a method of unevenly distributing a dichroic dye compound in a light absorption anisotropic layer, and an optically uniform light absorption anisotropy. Examples include a method of post-processing the layer.
Methods for controlling the thickness of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer in-plane include methods using lithography, methods using imprinting, and forming the light-absorbing anisotropic layer on a base material having an uneven structure. Examples include methods.
A method for unevenly distributing the dichroic dye compound in the light absorption anisotropic layer includes a method of extracting the dichroic dye by immersion in a solvent (bleaching).
Furthermore, as a method for post-processing the optically uniform light-absorbing anisotropic layer, a method of cutting a part of the flat light-absorbing anisotropic layer by laser processing or the like can be mentioned.

<Laminated body>
The laminate of the present invention is a laminate in which the above-described light absorption anisotropic layer (first embodiment and second embodiment) and a polarizer layer in which a dichroic substance is horizontally oriented are stacked. This makes it possible to lower the transmittance of oblique light, and by narrowing the viewing angle, it can be used in applications such as privacy films.
The polarizer layer in which the dichroic substance is horizontally oriented is not particularly limited. It may be a polarizer that is horizontally oriented by dyeing polyvinyl alcohol or other polymer resin with a dichroic substance and stretching it, or it may be a polarizer that is oriented horizontally by dyeing polyvinyl alcohol or other polymeric resin with a dichroic substance and stretching it. A polarizer in which a dichroic substance is horizontally oriented by utilizing liquid crystal orientation may be used, but a polarizer in which a dichroic substance is oriented horizontally by utilizing the orientation of liquid crystal without stretching is preferable.
As described in JP 2019-194685A, a polarizer in which a dichroic substance is oriented using the orientation of liquid crystals can be made extremely thin, with a thickness of about 0.1 to 5 μm. It has many advantages, such as being resistant to cracks when bent, having little thermal deformation, and being highly durable even with polarizing plates that have a high transmittance of over 50%, as described in Japanese Patent No. 6,483,486. Has advantages.
By taking advantage of these advantages, it is possible to use it in applications that require high brightness, small size and light weight, applications in minute optical systems, applications in molding parts with curved surfaces, and applications in flexible parts.

[Barrier layer]
The laminate of the present invention preferably has a barrier layer in addition to the light-absorbing anisotropic layer.
Here, the barrier layer is also called a gas barrier layer (oxygen barrier layer), and the light absorption anisotropic layer of the present invention is protected from gas such as oxygen in the atmosphere, moisture, or compounds contained in an adjacent layer. It has the function of protecting.
Regarding the barrier layer, for example, paragraphs [0014] to [0054] of JP 2014-159124, paragraphs [0042] to [0075] of JP 2017-121721, and [0075] of JP 2017-115076. Reference can be made to the descriptions in paragraphs [0045] to [0054], paragraphs [0010] to [0061] of JP-A No. 2012-213938, and paragraphs [0021] to [0031] of JP-A No. 2005-169994.

[Refractive index adjustment layer]
In the laminate of the present invention, internal reflection due to the high refractive index of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer may pose a problem. In that case, it is preferred that a refractive index adjusting layer is present. The refractive index adjusting layer is a layer disposed in contact with the light absorption anisotropic layer, and has an in-plane average refractive index of 1.55 to 1.70 at a wavelength of 550 nm. Preferably, it is a refractive index adjustment layer for performing so-called index matching.

<Optical film>
The optical film of the present invention has the above-mentioned light absorption anisotropic layer or the above-mentioned laminate.
The optical film may have members other than the light-absorbing anisotropic layer and the laminate.

[Transparent base film]
The optical film of the present invention may have a transparent base film.
As the transparent base film, known transparent resin films, transparent resin plates, transparent resin sheets, etc. can be used, and there are no particular limitations. Examples of the transparent resin film include cellulose acylate film (for example, cellulose triacetate film (refractive index 1.48), cellulose diacetate film, cellulose acetate butyrate film, cellulose acetate propionate film), polyethylene terephthalate film, polyether sulfone. films, cycloolefin films, polyacrylic resin films, polyurethane resin films, polyester films, polycarbonate films, polysulfone films, polyether films, polymethylpentene films, polyetherketone films, (meth)acrylic nitrile films, etc. can be mentioned.

Among these, cellulose acylate film is preferred, and cellulose triacetate film is more preferred, as it has high transparency, low optical birefringence, is easy to manufacture, and is commonly used as a protective film for polarizing plates.
The thickness of the transparent base film is usually 20 to 100 μm.
In the present invention, it is preferable that the transparent base film is a cellulose ester film and has a thickness of 20 to 70 μm.
In addition, by using a polyacrylic film or a high-hardness film with a hard coat layer as a transparent base material, it can be The light absorption anisotropic layer of the invention can be prevented from being damaged.
In addition, by using a low moisture permeability/low oxygen permeability film such as a polyethylene terephthalate film or a cycloolefin film as the transparent base material, it is possible to improve the high temperature and high humidity resistance and light resistance of the light absorption anisotropic layer. can.

[Alignment film]
The optical film of the present invention may have an alignment film between the transparent base film and the light-absorbing anisotropic layer.
The alignment film may be any layer as long as it can bring the dichroic substance into a desired alignment state on the alignment film.
For example, a film formed from a polyfunctional acrylate compound or polyvinyl alcohol may be used. Particularly preferred is polyvinyl alcohol.

The light-absorbing anisotropic layer, laminate, and optical film of the present invention can also be used in combination with an optically anisotropic film or an optical rotator in order to control the angular dependence of the viewing angle.

<Method for manufacturing optical film>
An example of the method for producing an optical film of the present invention includes a step of coating the above-mentioned light-absorbing anisotropic layer-forming composition on the above-mentioned transparent base film to form a coating film, and a step of forming a coating film with a liquid crystal contained in the coating film. The method includes a step of orienting a polar component to obtain the light-absorbing anisotropic layer, and a step of forming a protective layer adjacent to the light-absorbing anisotropic layer, in this order.
Each step can be performed according to a known method and is not particularly limited.
Note that the liquid crystal component is a component that includes not only the above-mentioned liquid crystal compound but also a dichroic substance having liquid crystallinity when the above-mentioned dichroic substance has liquid crystallinity.

[Adhesive layer]
The laminate and optical film of the present invention may have an adhesive layer.
The adhesive layer is preferably a transparent, optically isotropic adhesive similar to that used in ordinary liquid crystal display devices, and pressure-sensitive adhesives are usually used.

In addition to the base material (adhesive), conductive particles, and thermally expandable particles used as necessary, the adhesive layer contains a crosslinking agent (for example, an isocyanate crosslinking agent, an epoxy crosslinking agent, etc.), and a tackifying agent. agents (for example, rosin derivative resins, polyterpene resins, petroleum resins, oil-soluble phenolic resins, etc.), plasticizers, fillers, anti-aging agents, surfactants, ultraviolet absorbers, light stabilizers, and antioxidants Appropriate additives such as the following may be added.

The thickness of the adhesive layer is not particularly limited, and is preferably 20 to 500 μm, more preferably 20 to 250 μm. When the thickness of the adhesive layer is 20 μm or more, it is easy to obtain the necessary adhesive force and reworkability, and when the thickness of the adhesive layer is 500 μm or less, the adhesive does not protrude or ooze from the peripheral edge of the image display device. It can be controlled more.

To form the adhesive layer, for example, a release liner is formed by directly applying a coating liquid containing a base material, conductive particles, and if necessary, thermally expandable particles, additives, and a solvent to the object to be coated. A method of applying a coating liquid onto a suitable release liner (such as release paper) to form a thermally expandable adhesive layer, and then pressing and transferring (transferring) this onto the object to be coated. It will be done.

[Adhesive layer]
The laminate and optical film of the present invention may have an adhesive layer.
The adhesive contained in the adhesive layer develops adhesive properties through drying and reaction after bonding.
For example, a polyvinyl alcohol adhesive (PVA adhesive) develops adhesive properties when dried, making it possible to bond materials together.
Specific examples of curable adhesives that develop adhesive properties through reaction include active energy ray curable adhesives such as (meth)acrylate adhesives and cationic polymerization curable adhesives. Note that (meth)acrylate means acrylate and/or methacrylate. Examples of the curable component in the (meth)acrylate adhesive include a compound having a (meth)acryloyl group and a compound having a vinyl group. Further, as the cationic polymerization type adhesive, a compound having an epoxy group or an oxetanyl group can also be used. The compound having an epoxy group is not particularly limited as long as it has at least two epoxy groups in the molecule, and various commonly known curable epoxy compounds can be used. Preferred epoxy compounds include compounds having at least two epoxy groups and at least one aromatic ring in the molecule (aromatic epoxy compounds), and compounds having at least two epoxy groups in the molecule and at least one of them. Examples include compounds formed between two adjacent carbon atoms constituting an alicyclic ring (alicyclic epoxy compound).
Among these, from the viewpoint of heat deformation resistance, ultraviolet curable adhesives that are cured by ultraviolet irradiation are preferably used.

The adhesive layer and each adhesive layer are treated with UV absorbers such as salicylic acid ester compounds, benzophenol compounds, benzotriazole compounds, cyanoacrylate compounds, and nickel complex compounds to improve their ultraviolet absorption ability. It may also be a long one.

The adhesive layer or the adhesive layer can be attached to the film by any appropriate method. For example, prepare an adhesive solution of about 10 to 40% by weight by dissolving or dispersing the base polymer or its composition in a solvent consisting of a suitable solvent such as toluene or ethyl acetate alone or in a mixture, and pour it. Examples include a method in which the film is attached directly onto the film using an appropriate developing method such as a spreading method or a coating method, or a method in which an adhesive layer is formed on a separator and then transferred.

Adhesive and adhesive layers can also be provided as superimposed layers of different compositions or types on one or both sides of the film. Furthermore, when provided on both sides, the adhesive layers may have different compositions, types, thicknesses, etc. on the front and back sides of the film.

Furthermore, before attaching the adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive, a surface modification treatment may be performed on the object on which the adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive is placed, for the purpose of improving adhesiveness or the like. Specific treatments include corona treatment, plasma treatment, primer treatment, and saponification treatment.

<Image display device>
The image display device of the present invention has the above-described light-absorbing anisotropic layer of the present invention, the above-described laminate of the present invention, or the above-described optical film of the present invention.
The optical film of the present invention has higher frontal transmittance and lower oblique transmittance than conventional viewing angle control films using dichroic substances, so it is useful for realizing narrow viewing angles. Highly sexual. As a viewing angle control film, the light control film made by 3M is well known, but it has problems such as being thick and easily causing moiré due to the periodic structure, so the optical film of the present invention By using it in place of , it is possible to contribute to improved image quality, thinner layers, smaller size, and improved design of the image display device.
The display element used in the image display device of the present invention is not particularly limited, and includes, for example, a liquid crystal cell, an organic electroluminescence (hereinafter abbreviated as "EL") display panel, a plasma display panel, and the like.
Among these, a liquid crystal cell or an organic EL display panel is preferable, and a liquid crystal cell is more preferable. That is, the image display device of the present invention is preferably a liquid crystal display device using a liquid crystal cell as a display element, an organic EL display device using an organic EL display panel as a display element, and a liquid crystal display device is preferable. More preferred.

[Liquid crystal display device]
As a liquid crystal display device which is an example of the image display device of the present invention, an embodiment including the above-described light absorption anisotropic layer of the present invention and a liquid crystal cell is preferably mentioned. More preferably, there is a liquid crystal display device including the above-described laminate of the present invention (however, it does not include a λ/4 plate) and a liquid crystal cell.
In addition, in the present invention, it is preferable to use the laminate of the present invention as the front side polarizing element among the polarizing elements provided on both sides of the liquid crystal cell, and the laminate of the present invention is preferably used as the front side and rear side polarizing elements. It is more preferable to use
The liquid crystal cell constituting the liquid crystal display device will be described in detail below.

(liquid crystal cell)
The liquid crystal cell used in the liquid crystal display device is preferably in VA (Vertical Alignment) mode, OCB (Optically Compensated Bend) mode, IPS (In-Plane-Switching) mode, or TN (Twisted Nematic) mode. , but not limited to these.
In a TN mode liquid crystal cell, rod-like liquid crystal molecules are substantially horizontally aligned when no voltage is applied, and are further twisted at an angle of 60 to 120°. TN mode liquid crystal cells are most commonly used as color TFT (Thin Film Transistor) liquid crystal display devices, and are described in numerous documents.
In a VA mode liquid crystal cell, rod-like liquid crystal molecules are aligned substantially vertically when no voltage is applied. VA mode liquid crystal cells include (1) narrowly defined VA mode liquid crystal cells in which rod-shaped liquid crystal molecules are aligned substantially vertically when no voltage is applied, and substantially horizontally when voltage is applied (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-2002); In addition to (2) a multi-domain (MVA mode) liquid crystal cell (SID97, described in Digest of tech. Papers (Proceedings) 28 (1997) 845) in which the VA mode is multi-domained to expand the viewing angle. ), (3) Liquid crystal cell in a mode (n-ASM mode) in which rod-shaped liquid crystal molecules are aligned substantially vertically when no voltage is applied, and twisted and multi-domain aligned when a voltage is applied (Proceedings of the Japan Liquid Crystal Conference 58-59) (1998)) and (4) SURVIVAL mode liquid crystal cell (presented at LCD International 98). Further, it may be any of PVA (Patterned Vertical Alignment) type, optical alignment type (Optical Alignment), and PSA (Polymer-Sustained Alignment). Details of these modes are described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-215326 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-538819.
In an IPS mode liquid crystal cell, rod-shaped liquid crystal molecules are aligned substantially parallel to the substrate, and when an electric field parallel to the substrate surface is applied, the liquid crystal molecules respond in a planar manner. In the IPS mode, a black display occurs when no electric field is applied, and the absorption axes of the pair of upper and lower polarizing plates are perpendicular to each other. A method of using an optical compensatory sheet to reduce leakage light during black display in an oblique direction and improve the viewing angle is disclosed in JP-A-10-54982, JP-A-11-202323, and JP-A-9-292522. JP-A-11-133408, JP-A-11-305217, and JP-A-10-307291.

[Organic EL display device]
An organic EL display device, which is an example of an image display device of the present invention, includes, from the viewing side, the above-described light-absorbing anisotropic layer of the present invention, a horizontally aligned polarizer, a λ/4 plate, and an organic EL display device. A preferable embodiment includes a display panel and a display panel in this order.
Furthermore, an organic EL display panel is a display panel constructed using an organic EL element in which an organic light emitting layer (organic electroluminescence layer) is sandwiched between electrodes (between a cathode and an anode). The structure of the organic EL display panel is not particularly limited, and a known structure may be employed.

[Curved image display device]
Examples of the curved image display device of the present invention are disclosed in JP-A No. 2017-181821, JP-A No. 2017-181819, JP-A No. 2017-102456, and JP-A No. 2014-095901. There is.
The curved image display device has a curved portion in the display portion. Since the light-absorbing anisotropic layer of the present invention has low rigidity, it can be deformed in shape along the curved surface of the display area. That is, the light absorption anisotropic layer of the present invention can be deformed so that it has a curved surface portion.
In addition, since the laminate and optical film of the present invention also have low rigidity, the shape can be deformed so as to follow the curved surface of the display portion. That is, the laminate and optical film of the present invention can be deformed so that they themselves have curved surfaces.

[Image display device that can switch the viewing angle (image display device that can switch the viewing angle)]
By using the light absorption anisotropic layer, laminate, and optical film of the present invention, it is possible to narrow the light emission angle. Various types of image display devices capable of switching viewing angles are known, but the light-absorbing anisotropic layer, laminate, and optical film of the present invention are used for the purpose of generating light with a narrow emission angle. be able to.
For example, after generating light with a narrow emission angle using the light-absorbing anisotropic layer, laminate, and optical film of the present invention, as described in JP-A-9-105907, the presence or absence of light diffusion is determined. You can switch between narrow viewing angle and wide viewing angle by passing through the control element.
Alternatively, as described in JP-A-2017-098246, from the viewing side, an inverted prism sheet, a first light guide plate that allows light to enter the inverted prism sheet at a relatively large incident angle (the light emitted from the inverted prism sheet is a narrow viewing angle), and an optical filter element that absorbs incident light from an oblique angle and enters the light with a narrow exit angle into the above-mentioned inverted prism sheet at a relatively small incident angle, and a second light guide plate (the second light guide plate In a narrow viewing angle/wide viewing angle switching backlight system in which the emitted light has a narrow viewing angle, the light absorption anisotropic layer, laminate, or optical film of the present invention can be used as the optical filter element.
Further, a phase difference modulation element such as a liquid crystal cell may be disposed between the light absorption anisotropic layer of the present invention and the horizontally aligned polarizer to perform narrow viewing angle/light viewing angle switching. For example, when a VA mode or ECB mode liquid crystal cell is used as a phase difference modulation cell, the viewing angle will be narrow if the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal cell is vertically aligned, and the viewing angle will be wide if the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal cell is tilted. It is in angle mode, and the narrow viewing angle/wide viewing angle can be controlled by whether or not voltage is applied to the cell.
Furthermore, it is also possible to use an IPS mode liquid crystal cell as the phase difference modulation cell. The alignment direction of the liquid crystal cell when no voltage is applied is parallel or perpendicular to the absorption axis direction of the horizontally aligned polarizer, and by changing the alignment direction of the liquid crystal cell by applying a voltage, the viewing angle can be changed from a narrow viewing angle to a wide viewing angle. You can switch the viewing angle from corner to corner.
Further, as in Example 7 described later, by patterning the regions A and B according to claims 3 and 4 of the present invention for each light emitting pixel and controlling lighting of each light emitting pixel, narrow viewing angles can be achieved. /It is possible to switch the wide viewing angle.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained based on Examples. The materials, reagents, amounts and proportions of substances shown in the following examples, operations, etc. can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to or limited to the following examples.

<Example 1>
A light-absorbing anisotropic layer in which dyes were oriented in the vertical direction was prepared as follows.

[Preparation of transparent support 1]
The surface of cellulose acylate film 1 (TAC base material with a thickness of 40 μm; TG40, Fuji Film Co., Ltd.) was saponified with an alkaline solution, and coating liquid 1 for forming an alignment layer was applied thereon using a wire bar. The support on which the coating film was formed was dried with hot air at 60° C. for 60 seconds and then with hot air at 100° C. for 120 seconds to form an alignment layer, thereby obtaining a TAC film with an alignment layer.
The thickness of the alignment layer was 1 μm.

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
(Coating liquid 1 for forming alignment layer)
――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
・3.80 parts by mass of the following modified polyvinyl alcohol ・0.20 parts by mass of initiator Irg2959 ・70 parts by mass of water ・30 parts by mass of methanol―――――――――――――――――― ――――――――――――

Modified polyvinyl alcohol

[Formation of light absorption anisotropic layer P1]
On the obtained alignment layer PA1, the following composition P1 for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer was continuously applied using a wire bar to form a coating layer P1.
Next, the coating layer P1 was heated at 140° C. for 30 seconds, and the coating layer P1 was cooled to room temperature (23° C.).
Next, the coating layer P1 was heated at 80° C. for 60 seconds and cooled to room temperature again.
Thereafter, the coating layer P1 was irradiated with an LED lamp (center wavelength 365 nm) for 2 seconds at an illuminance of 200 mW/cm ² to produce a light-absorbing anisotropic layer P1 on the alignment layer 1. .
The film thickness of the coating layer P1 was 3 μm, and the degree of orientation of the light absorption anisotropic layer P1 at a wavelength of 550 nm was 0.96.
This was designated as Light Absorption Anisotropic Film 1.

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Composition of composition P1 for forming light-absorbing anisotropic layer--------------------------------------------
・The following dichroic substance D-1 0.40 parts by mass ・The following dichroic substance D-2 0.15 parts by mass ・The following dichroic substance D-3 0.63 parts by mass ・The following polymeric liquid crystal compound P -1 3.65 parts by mass ・Polymerization initiator IRGACUREOXE-02 (manufactured by BASF) 0.040 parts by mass ・The following compound E-1 0.060 parts by mass ・The following compound E-2 0.060 parts by mass ・The following surface activity Agent F-1 0.010 parts by mass・Surfactant F-2 below 0.015 parts by mass・Cyclopentanone 47.00 parts by mass・Tetrahydrofuran 47.00 parts by mass・Benzyl alcohol 1.00 parts by mass--- ――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

Dichroic substance D-1

Dichroic substance D-2

Dichroic substance D-3

Polymer liquid crystal compound P-1

Compound E-1

Compound E-2

Surfactant F-1

Surfactant F-2

[Preparation of laminate A1]
Polarizing plate 1 with a polarizer thickness of 8 μm and one side of the polarizer exposed was produced in the same manner as polarizing plate 02 with a single-sided protective film described in International Publication No. 2015/166991.
The surface of the polarizing plate 1 on which the polarizer is exposed and the surface of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer of the light-absorbing anisotropic film 1 prepared above were corona-treated and bonded using the PVA adhesive 1 described below to form a laminate. A1 was produced.

(Preparation of PVA adhesive 1)
For 100 parts by mass of polyvinyl alcohol resin containing acetoacetyl group (average degree of polymerization: 1200, degree of saponification: 98.5 mol%, degree of acetoacetylation: 5 mol%), 20 parts by mass of methylolmelamine was added to 30 parts by mass. An aqueous solution was prepared by dissolving it in pure water and adjusting the solid content concentration to 3.7% by mass under a temperature condition of .degree.

[Production of image display device A1]
An iPad Air (registered trademark) Wi-Fi model 16GB (manufactured by APPLE), which is an IPS mode liquid crystal display device, was disassembled and the liquid crystal cell was taken out. Peel off the viewing side polarizing plate from the liquid crystal cell, and apply the above-produced laminate A1 on the surface from which the viewing side polarizing plate was peeled off, with the polarizing plate 1 side facing the liquid crystal cell side, using the following adhesive sheet 1. It was pasted together. At this time, the polarizing plate 1 was laminated so that the direction of its absorption axis was the same as that of the viewing side polarizing plate that had been laminated to the product. After bonding, it was reassembled to produce an image display device A1.

(Preparation of adhesive sheet 1)
An acrylate polymer was prepared according to the following procedure.
In a reaction vessel equipped with a cooling tube, a nitrogen introduction tube, a thermometer, and a stirring device, 95 parts by weight of butyl acrylate and 5 parts by weight of acrylic acid were polymerized by solution polymerization to obtain an average molecular weight of 2 million and a molecular weight distribution (Mw/ An acrylate polymer A1 having a Mn) of 3.0 was obtained.

Next, in addition to the obtained acrylate polymer A1 (100 parts by mass), Coronate L (75% by mass ethyl acetate solution of trimethylolpropane adduct of tolylene diisocyanate, number of isocyanate groups in one molecule: 3) (manufactured by Japan Polyurethane Industries, Ltd.) (1.0 parts by mass) and silane coupling agent KBM-403 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) (0.2 parts by mass), and finally the total solid content A composition for forming an adhesive was prepared by adding ethyl acetate so that the amount was 10% by mass. This composition was applied using a die coater to a separate film surface-treated with a silicone release agent and dried for 1 minute in an environment of 90°C to obtain an acrylate adhesive sheet (adhesive sheet 1). The thickness of the adhesive sheet 1 was 25 μm, and the storage modulus of the adhesive sheet 1 was 0.1 MPa.

<Example 2>
Image display device A2 of Example 2 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer P1 was changed to the composition P2 for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer.

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Composition of composition P2 for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer -----------------------------------------------------
・The following dichroic substance D-4 0.40 parts by mass ・The above dichroic substance D-2 0.15 parts by mass ・The above dichroic substance D-3 0.63 parts by mass ・The above polymeric liquid crystal compound P -1 3.65 parts by mass / Polymerization initiator IRGACUREOXE-02 (manufactured by BASF) 0.040 parts by mass / The above compound E-1 0.060 parts by mass / The above compound E-2 0.060 parts by mass / The above surface activity Agent F-1 0.010 parts by mass, surfactant F-2 0.015 parts by mass, cyclopentanone 47.00 parts by mass, tetrahydrofuran 47.00 parts by mass, benzyl alcohol 1.00 parts by mass --- ――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

Dichroic substance D-4

<Example 3>
Image display device A3 of Example 3 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer P1 was changed to the composition P3 for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer.

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Composition of composition P3 for forming light-absorbing anisotropic layer -----------------------------------------------------
- 0.40 parts by mass of the above dichroic substance D-1 - 0.15 parts by mass of the above dichroic substance D-2 - 0.63 parts by mass of the above dichroic substance D-3 - The following polymer liquid crystal compound P -2 3.20 parts by mass - Low molecular weight liquid crystal compound M-1 below 0.45 parts by mass - Polymerization initiator IRGACUREOXE-02 (manufactured by BASF) 0.040 parts by mass - Compound E-1 below 0.060 parts by mass - Compound E-2 below 0.060 parts by mass - Surfactant F-1 below 0.010 parts by mass - Surfactant F-2 below 0.015 parts by mass - Cyclopentanone 47.00 parts by mass - Tetrahydrofuran 47. 00 parts by mass・Benzyl alcohol 1.00 parts by mass――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

Polymer liquid crystal compound P-2

Low molecular liquid crystal compound M-1

<Example 4>
Image display device A4 of Example 4 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the composition for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer P1 was changed to the composition P4 for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer.

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Composition of composition P4 for forming light-absorbing anisotropic layer -----------------------------------------------------
・The following dichroic substance D-5 0.40 parts by mass ・The above dichroic substance D-2 0.15 parts by mass ・The above dichroic substance D-3 0.63 parts by mass ・The above polymeric liquid crystal compound P -1 3.65 parts by mass / Polymerization initiator IRGACUREOXE-02 (manufactured by BASF) 0.040 parts by mass / The above compound E-1 0.060 parts by mass / The above compound E-2 0.060 parts by mass / The above surface activity Agent F-1 0.010 parts by mass, surfactant F-2 0.015 parts by mass, cyclopentanone 47.00 parts by mass, tetrahydrofuran 47.00 parts by mass, benzyl alcohol 1.00 parts by mass --- ――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

Dichroic substance D-5

<Example 5>
[Production of cellulose acylate film 1]
(Preparation of core layer cellulose acylate dope)
The following composition was put into a mixing tank and stirred to dissolve each component to prepare a cellulose acetate solution to be used as a core layer cellulose acylate dope.
――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Core layer cellulose acylate dope――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
・100 parts by mass of cellulose acetate with a degree of acetyl substitution of 2.88 ・12 parts by mass of polyester compound B described in the examples of JP-A-2015-227955 ・2 parts by mass of the following compound F ・Methylene chloride (first solvent) 430 Parts by mass/methanol (second solvent) 64 parts by mass――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

Compound F

(Preparation of outer layer cellulose acylate dope)
10 parts by mass of the following matting agent solution was added to 90 parts by mass of the core layer cellulose acylate dope to prepare a cellulose acetate solution to be used as the outer layer cellulose acylate dope.

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Matting agent solution――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
- 2 parts by mass of silica particles with an average particle size of 20 nm (AEROSIL R972, manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) - 76 parts by mass of methylene chloride (first solvent) - 11 parts by mass of methanol (second solvent) - The above core layer cellulose ash Rate dope 1 part by mass――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

(Preparation of cellulose acylate film 2)
After filtering the core layer cellulose acylate dope and the outer layer cellulose acylate dope through a filter paper with an average pore size of 34 μm and a sintered metal filter with an average pore size of 10 μm, the core layer cellulose acylate dope and the outer layer cellulose acylate dope are placed on both sides. Three layers of the dope were simultaneously cast from a casting port onto a drum at 20°C (band casting machine).
Next, the film was peeled off from the drum with a solvent content of about 20% by mass, both ends of the film in the width direction were fixed with tenter clips, and the film was dried while being stretched in the transverse direction at a stretching ratio of 1.1 times.
Thereafter, the film was further dried by being conveyed between rolls of a heat treatment device to produce an optical film having a thickness of 20 μm, which was designated as cellulose acylate film 2. The in-plane retardation of the obtained cellulose acylate film 2 was 0 nm.

[Preparation of transparent support 2]
Coating liquid PA1 for forming a photo-alignment layer, which will be described later, was continuously applied onto the cellulose acylate film 2 using a wire bar. The support on which the coating film was formed was dried with hot air at 140°C for 120 seconds, and then the coating film was irradiated with polarized ultraviolet light (10 mJ/cm ² , using an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp) to form a photo-alignment layer. PA1 was formed to obtain a TAC film with a photo-alignment layer. The film thickness of the photo-alignment layer PA1 was 0.3 μm.

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
(Coating liquid PA1 for photo-alignment layer formation)
――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
The following polymer PA-1 100.00 parts by mass The following acid generator PAG-1 5.00 parts by mass The following acid generator CPI-110TF 0.005 parts by mass Isopropyl alcohol 16.50 parts by mass Butyl acetate 1072.00 parts by mass Methyl ethyl ketone 268.00 parts by mass――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

Polymer PA-1

Acid generator PAG-1

Acid generator CPI-110F

[Formation of polarizer layer 1]
On the obtained photo-alignment layer PA1, the following composition 1 for forming a polarizer layer was continuously applied using a wire bar to form a coating layer 1.
Next, the coating layer 1 was heated at 140° C. for 30 seconds, and the coating layer 1 was cooled to room temperature (23° C.).
Next, the obtained coating layer 1 was heated at 80° C. for 60 seconds and cooled again to room temperature.
Thereafter, the polarizer layer 1 was produced on the photo-alignment layer PA1 by irradiating for 2 seconds using an LED lamp (center wavelength: 365 nm) at an illuminance of 200 mW/cm ² . The thickness of the polarizer layer 1 was 1.6 μm.

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Composition of polarizer layer forming composition 1――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
- 0.25 parts by mass of the dichroic substance D-1 - 0.36 parts by mass of the dichroic substance D-2 - 0.59 parts by mass of the dichroic substance D-3 - The polymeric liquid crystal compound P -2 2.21 parts by mass ・Low molecular weight liquid crystal compound M-1 1.36 parts by mass ・Polymerization initiator IRGACUREOXE-02 (manufactured by BASF) 0.200 parts by mass ・Surfactant F-3 below 0.026 Parts by mass・Cyclopentanone 46.00 parts by mass・Tetrahydrofuran 46.00 parts by mass・Benzyl alcohol 3.00 parts by mass―――――――――――――――――――――― ――――――――――

Surfactant F-3

[Formation of alignment layer 1]
After the surface of the polarizer layer 1 was subjected to corona treatment, the above-mentioned coating liquid 1 for forming an alignment layer was continuously applied using a wire bar. Thereafter, a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) alignment layer 1 having a thickness of 1.0 μm was formed on the polarizer layer 1 by drying with hot air at 100° C. for 2 minutes.

[Formation of light absorption anisotropic layer P1]
On the obtained alignment layer 1, the composition P1 for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer was continuously applied using a wire bar to form a coating layer P1.
Next, the coating layer P1 was heated at 140° C. for 30 seconds, and the coating layer P1 was cooled to room temperature (23° C.).
Next, the obtained coating layer P1 was heated at 80° C. for 60 seconds and cooled again to room temperature.
Thereafter, a light-absorbing anisotropic layer P1 was produced on the alignment layer 1 by irradiating with an LED lamp (center wavelength 365 nm) for 2 seconds at an illuminance of 200 mW/cm ² to form a laminate A5. The thickness of the coating layer P1 was 3 μm, and the degree of orientation of the light absorption anisotropic layer P1 at a wavelength of 550 nm was 0.96.

[Production of image display device A5]
An iPad Air (registered trademark) Wi-Fi model 16GB (manufactured by APPLE), which is an IPS mode liquid crystal display device, was disassembled and the liquid crystal cell was taken out. Peel off the viewing-side polarizing plate from the liquid crystal cell, and place the above-prepared laminate A5 on the surface from which the viewing-side polarizing plate was peeled off, with the cellulose acylate film 2 side facing the liquid crystal cell side, and apply the adhesive sheet 1. It was laminated using At this time, the polarizer layer 1 was bonded so that the direction of the absorption axis was the same as that of the viewing side polarizing plate that was bonded to the product. After bonding, it was reassembled to produce an image display device A5.

<Comparative example 1>
An image display device B1 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the composition P1 for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer was changed to the composition P5 for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer.

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Composition of composition P5 for forming light-absorbing anisotropic layer -----------------------------------------------------
- 8.71 parts by mass of the above dichroic substance D-5 - 10.59 parts by mass of the following dichroic substance D-6 - 44.13 parts by mass of the following polymer liquid crystal compound P-3 - Polymerization initiator IRGACUREOXE-02 (manufactured by BASF) 0.040 parts by mass・Compound E-1 0.800 parts by mass・Compound E-2 0.800 parts by mass・Surfactant F-2 0.960 parts by mass・Cyclopentanone 793 .90 parts by mass ・Tetrahydrofuran 140.10 parts by mass――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

Dichroic substance D-6

Polymer liquid crystal compound P-3

<Comparative example 2>
Image display device B2 was produced in the same manner as Comparative Example 1 except that the thickness of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer was changed from 3 μm to 4.5 μm.

<Performance evaluation>
(1) Evaluation of degree of orientation The degree of orientation of the obtained anisotropic light absorption layer at a wavelength of 550 nm was calculated by the following method.
Using AxoScan OPMF-1 (manufactured by Optoscience), during measurement, the polar angle, which is the angle to the normal direction of the light absorption anisotropic layer, was changed every 5 degrees from 0 to 90 degrees. Transmittance at a wavelength of 550 nm at all azimuth angles at polar angles was measured. Next, after removing the influence of surface reflection, the transmittance at the azimuthal and polar angles with the highest transmittance is Tm(0), and in the azimuthal direction with the highest transmittance, from the polar angle with the highest transmittance, Furthermore, the transmittance at an angle where the polar angle is tilted by 40 degrees is Tm (40). The absorbance was calculated from the obtained Tm(0) and Tm(40) using the following formula, and A(0) and A(40) were calculated.
A=-log(Tm)
Here, Tm represents transmittance and A represents absorbance.
From the calculated A(0) and A(40), the degree of orientation S at a wavelength of 550 nm defined by the following formula was calculated.
S=(4.6×A(40)-A(0))/(4.6×A(40)+2×A(0))
By changing the above wavelength from 550 nm to 420 nm, the degree of orientation S at a wavelength of 420 nm was calculated.

(2) Evaluation of transmittance and color tone The image display device A1 produced above was measured using a measuring device (EZ-Contrast XL88, manufactured by ELDIM) to measure the brightness Y of the white display screen at a polar angle of 0° (front direction). (0) A1, brightness Y at a polar angle of 30° (oblique direction) (30) A1, color at a polar angle of 0° a ^* (0) A1, color b ^* (0) A1, color at a polar angle of 30° Taste a ^* (30)A1 and color b ^* (30)A1 were measured.
In addition, in the production of image display device A1, image display device C was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that a polarizing plate without a light-absorbing anisotropic layer was bonded to the liquid crystal cell, and image display device C was produced in the same manner as described above. The brightness Y(0)C at a polar angle of 0° (front direction) and the brightness Y(30)C at a polar angle of 30° (oblique direction) of the white display screen were measured. The front transmittance T0 (T(0)) and the oblique transmittance T30 (T(30)) were determined by comparing with the brightness of the image display device C that does not include the light-absorbing anisotropic layer.
Specifically, it was calculated using the following formula, and the transmittance was evaluated based on the following criteria.
T(0)={Y(0)A1/Y(0)C}×100
T(30)={Y(30)A1/Y(30)C}×100
A: Polar angle 0° (front) transmittance is 80% or more,
In addition, the transmittance at a polar angle of 30° (oblique) is 10% or less.
B: Polar angle 0° (front) transmittance is lower than 80%,
In addition, the transmittance at a polar angle of 30° (oblique) is 10% or less.
Or, polar angle 0° (front) transmittance is 80% or more,
In addition, the transmittance at a polar angle of 30° (oblique) is higher than 10%.
Or, the polar angle 0° (front) transmittance is lower than 80%,
In addition, the transmittance at a polar angle of 30° (oblique) is higher than 10%.

Further, the color evaluation was calculated using the following formula, and the color was evaluated based on the following criteria.
|a ^* b ^* |= √(a ^* (0)A1 ² +b ^* (0)A1 ² )
+√(a ^* (30)A1 ² +b ^* (30)A1 ² )
AA: |a ^* b ^* | is less than 12 A: |a ^* b ^* | is 12 or more and less than 15 B: |a ^* b ^* | is 15 or more

In place of the image display device A1, image display devices A2 to A5 and B1 to B2 were used to evaluate transmittance and color tone according to the same procedure as above.

Note that in the light absorption anisotropic layers obtained in Examples 1 to 5, the dichroic substance was oriented perpendicularly to the film surface. The definition of vertically oriented is as described above.

In Table 1, "550 nm orientation degree" represents the orientation degree of the light absorption anisotropic layer at a wavelength of 550 nm, and "420 nm orientation degree" represents the orientation degree of the light absorption anisotropic layer at a wavelength of 420 nm.
The "Front" column in the "Transmittance" column represents the front transmittance, and the "30°" column represents the polar angle 30° (oblique) transmittance.

[Confirmation of suitability for curved surface machining]
The laminate A1 produced in Example 1 was placed on the display screen of a curved smartphone (Galaxy Note 9 manufactured by Samsung) using a commercially available adhesive SK2057 (manufactured by Soken Kagaku) with the polarizing plate 1 side facing the pasting side. Pasted. Since the laminate A1 had a film thickness of 100 μm or less and low rigidity, it could be bonded neatly without air bubbles even on the curved surface of the display screen.
Next, a louver-type optical film (3M ^TM security/privacy filter PF12 H2 series), which has the same performance as the optical film of the present invention and is widely used in the market, was placed on the display screen of the smartphone using a commercially available adhesive. It was laminated using agent SK2057 (manufactured by Soken Kagaku). Since the louver type optical film has a film thickness of 500 μm and high rigidity, air bubbles were formed in the curved portion of the display screen, making it impossible to bond them neatly.

<Example 6>
[Formation of light absorption anisotropic layer]
A light absorption anisotropic layer having a pattern of regions A and B was produced as follows.
On the alignment layer PA1 of Example 1, the above-mentioned composition P1 for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer was continuously applied using a wire bar to form a coating layer P1.
Next, the coating layer P1 was heated at 140° C. for 30 seconds, and the coating layer P1 was cooled to room temperature (23° C.).
Next, the obtained coating layer P1 was heated at 80° C. for 60 seconds and cooled again to room temperature.
Thereafter, by irradiating light emitted from a high-pressure mercury lamp through a mask for 60 seconds at an illuminance of 28 mW/cm ² , a cured region and an uncured region of the liquid crystal compound are formed on the alignment film PA. A light-absorbing anisotropic layer having the following was fabricated. Note that the mask had a mask pattern having a rectangular light transmitting part measuring 10 mm in length x 50 mm in width as region A, a light blocking part (region B), and a light transmitting part.
The produced film having a light-absorbing anisotropic layer having a cured region (area A) and an uncured region (area B) of a liquid crystalline compound in the plane was immersed in ethanol for 3 minutes to confirm that no polymerization had occurred. The liquid crystalline compound was washed and removed to form a light-absorbing anisotropic film 6 having a patterned light-absorbing anisotropic layer having regions A and B with different degrees of polarization in the plane.
In region A, the dichroic substance was oriented perpendicularly to the film surface. The definition of vertically oriented is as described above.
Further, the degree of orientation at a wavelength of 550 nm in region A was 0.96, and the degree of orientation at a wavelength of 420 nm was 0.94.
Further, in region A, the polar angle 30° transmittance was 10% or less, and the front transmittance was 80% or more. In region B, both the polar angle 30° transmittance and the front transmittance were 80% or more.

[Preparation of laminate A6]
Polarizing plate 1 with a polarizer thickness of 8 μm and one side of the polarizer exposed was produced in the same manner as polarizing plate 02 with a single-sided protective film described in International Publication No. 2015/166991.
The polarizer-exposed surface of the polarizing plate 1 and the surface of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer of the produced light-absorbing anisotropic film 6 were bonded together using the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 1 to produce a laminate A6.

[Production of image display device A6]
An image display device A6 was produced in the same manner as the image display device A1 described above by changing the laminate A1 to a laminate A6. Only area A had a narrow viewing angle and was clearly visible only from the front.

<Example 7>
[Formation of light absorption anisotropic layer]
A light absorption anisotropic layer having a pattern of regions A and B was produced as follows.
On the alignment layer PA1 of Example 1, the above-mentioned composition P1 for forming a light-absorbing anisotropic layer was continuously applied using a wire bar to form a coating layer P1.
Next, the coating layer P1 was heated at 140° C. for 30 seconds, and the coating layer P1 was cooled to room temperature (23° C.).
Next, the obtained coating layer P1 was heated at 80° C. for 60 seconds and cooled again to room temperature.
Thereafter, by irradiating light emitted from a high-pressure mercury lamp through a mask for 60 seconds at an illuminance of 28 mW/cm ² , a cured region and an uncured region of the liquid crystal compound are formed in the plane on the alignment film. A light absorption anisotropic layer having the following properties was prepared. The mask has a rectangular light-transmitting part measuring 85 μm long x 50 mm wide as area A, and a rectangular light-blocking part measuring 85 μm long x 50 mm wide as area B, and areas A and B are arranged alternately. , a mask pattern having a length of 50 mm in the vertical direction was used.
The produced film having a light-absorbing anisotropic layer having a cured region (area A) and an uncured region (area B) of a liquid crystalline compound in the plane was immersed in ethanol for 3 minutes to confirm that no polymerization had occurred. The liquid crystalline compound was washed and removed to form a light-absorbing anisotropic film 7 having a light-absorbing anisotropic layer having a region A and a region B having different degrees of polarization in the plane.
In region A, the dichroic substance was oriented perpendicularly to the film surface. The definition of vertically oriented is as described above.
Further, the degree of orientation at a wavelength of 550 nm in region A was 0.96, and the degree of orientation at a wavelength of 420 nm was 0.94.
Further, in region A, the polar angle 30° transmittance was 10% or less, and the front transmittance was 80% or more. In region B, both the polar angle 30° transmittance and the front transmittance were 80% or more.

[Preparation of laminate A7]
Polarizing plate 1 with a polarizer thickness of 8 μm and one side of the polarizer exposed was produced in the same manner as polarizing plate 02 with a single-sided protective film described in International Publication No. 2015/166991.
The polarizer-exposed surface of the polarizing plate 1 and the surface of the light-absorbing anisotropic layer of the produced light-absorbing anisotropic film 7 were bonded together using adhesive SK2057 (manufactured by Soken Kagaku) to produce a laminate A7. did.

[Production of image display device A7]
A Samsung smartphone GaLaxy S4 was disassembled, and the polarizing plate bonded to the EL substrate was peeled off. On the EL substrate from which the polarizing plate has been peeled off, using adhesive SK2057 (manufactured by Soken Kagaku), Pure Ace WR W142 (manufactured by Teijin) and the above-mentioned laminate A7 are stacked, with Pure Ace WR W142 on the EL substrate side. The body A7 was laminated so that the light absorption anisotropic film 7 side was the viewing side. At this time, the laminated body A7 was bonded so that the regions A and B of the laminate A7 were aligned with the pixels of the EL substrate.

In the manufactured image display device A7, an image α in which an image is displayed only in pixels overlapping area A, and an image β in which an image is displayed only in pixels overlapping area B were prepared. When the image α was displayed, when viewed from a direction at a polar angle of 30° with respect to the absorption axis of the film bonded to the image display device A7, the image became dark and could no longer be recognized. In addition, when image β is displayed, when the image is viewed from a direction at a polar angle of 30° with respect to the absorption axis of the film bonded to image display device A7, the change in brightness is small and the image is recognized. did it. Therefore, it was confirmed that by using the patterned light absorption anisotropic film 7, an image display device that can switch the viewing angle can be manufactured.

<Example 8>
With reference to the example of JP-A-2017-098246, a backlight module capable of switching the viewing angle was manufactured using the light absorption anisotropic film 1 manufactured in Example 1 as the optical filter element 140.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a backlight module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, the backlight module 100 of the present embodiment includes a first surface light source assembly 110, a second surface light source assembly 120, a first optical sheet 130, and an optical filter element 140.
The first surface light source assembly 110 includes a first light emitting unit 111 and a first light guide plate 112, the first light guide plate 112 having a first light output surface 114 and a first bottom surface 115 facing each other, and a first light output surface 114 and a first bottom surface facing each other. 115 , and the first light emitting unit 111 is located near the first light incident surface 113 of the first light guide plate 112 .
The second surface light source assembly 120 is located above the first surface light source assembly 110 and includes a second light emitting unit 121 and a second light guide plate 122. The second light emitting unit 121 has a bottom surface 125 and a second light entrance surface 123 located between the second light exit surface 124 and the second bottom surface 125, and the second light emitting unit 121 is located near the second light entrance surface 123 of the second light guide plate 122. Located in
The first optical sheet 130 is located above the second surface light source assembly 120 and includes a plurality of prism pillars 131 arranged in a first direction (for example, the towards the surface light source assembly 120. In this embodiment, the axial direction of the prism pillar 131 extends in the second direction (for example, the Z-axis direction), and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. The optical filter element 140 is located between the first surface light source assembly 110 and the second surface light source assembly 120, and the optical filter element 140 transmits incident light within a predetermined incident angle range.
The first light emitting unit 111 provides a light beam, and the light beam enters the first light guide plate 112 from the first light incident surface 113, and the first light guide plate 112 converts the light beam to the first light guide plate 112. A first surface light source that emits light from one light output surface 114 is used. The second light guide unit 121 provides a light beam, and the light beam enters the second light guide plate 122 from the second light incident surface 123, and the second light guide plate 122 converts the light beam to the second light guide plate 122. A second surface light source is used which emits light from the second light emitting surface 124.
The first light emitting unit 111 and the second light emitting unit 121 both include, for example, a substrate (not shown) and a plurality of light emitting elements (not shown) disposed on the substrate, such as light emitting diodes, but are limited thereto. Not done. The present invention does not limit the types of the first light emitting unit 111 and the second light emitting unit 121. Furthermore, the type of light when the light rays are emitted from the first light output surface 114 and the second light output surface 124 is adjusted at the first bottom surface 115 of the first light guide plate 112 and the second bottom surface 125 of the second light guide plate 122. Microstructures (not shown) may be provided for this purpose. The fine structure may be a halftone dot, a groove, etc., but is not limited thereto.
The first optical sheet 130 is, for example, an inverted prism sheet or a composite optical sheet having an inverted prism sheet structure, so that light rays having different incident angles can be emitted from the first optical sheet 130 at different exit angles. . Taking the light ray incident from the first surface 133 of the prism pillar 131 as an example, if the angle of incidence is relatively large, the light ray is refracted to the second surface 134 and reflected by the second surface 134, and then The light is emitted from the light emitting side 135 of the first optical sheet 130 at a small emission angle. When the incident angle is relatively small, the light beam is refracted and then output from the light exit side 135 of the first optical sheet 130 at a relatively large exit angle. Further, the axial direction of each prism pillar 131 is parallel to the Z-axis direction, for example. The tip 132 of each prism pillar 131 may be chamfered, for example, rounded.
Specifically, when the first light emitting unit 111 is on, the light beam L1 is mainly incident on the first surface 133 and the second surface 134 of the prism pillar 131 of the first optical sheet 130 at a relatively small incident angle. Therefore, the light is emitted from the light emitting side 135 of the first optical sheet 130 at a relatively large emission angle. When the second light emitting unit 121 is on, the light beam L2 is mainly incident on the first surface 133 and the second surface 134 of the prism pillar 131 of the first optical sheet 130 in FIG. 1 at a relatively large incident angle. The light is emitted from the light emitting side 135 of the first optical sheet 130 at a relatively small emitting angle. When both the first light emitting unit 111 and the second light emitting unit 121 are on, a light beam L1 with a relatively large emission angle and a light beam L2 with a relatively small emission angle are emitted from the light emission side 135 of the first optical sheet 130, After overlapping, a wide viewing angle surface light source can be formed. Therefore, when both the first light emitting unit 111 and the second light emitting unit 121 are turned on, the wide viewing angle mode can be defined. On the other hand, when the first light emitting unit 111 is off and the second light emitting unit 121 is on, the light beam L2 with a relatively small emission angle is emitted from the light emission side 135 of the first optical sheet 130, and then the narrow viewing angle surface light source is formed. Therefore, when the second light emitting unit 121 is on and the first light emitting unit 111 is off, it can be defined as a narrow viewing angle mode. In other words, the backlight module shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to a backlight module whose viewing angle can be switched.
From the above, it was confirmed that by using the light absorption anisotropic film 1 of the present invention as the optical filter element 140, a backlight module with high front brightness and switchable viewing angles could be obtained.

100 Backlight module 110 First surface source assembly 111 First light emitting unit 112 First light guide plate 113 First incident surface 114 First exit surface 115 First bottom surface 120 Second surface source assembly 121 Second light emitting unit 122 Second light guide plate 123 Second incident surface 124 Second exit surface 125 Second bottom surface 130 First optical sheet 131 Prism pillar 132 Tip 133 First surface 134 Second surface 135 Outgoing side 140 Optical filter element (light absorption anisotropic film)
151, 153 Diffusion sheet 152 Prism sheet

Claims (6)

An optical film comprising a light-absorbing anisotropic layer and an alignment film (but not including a photo-alignment film) disposed adjacent to the light-absorbing anisotropic layer,
The light absorption anisotropic layer contains a liquid crystal compound and at least one dichroic substance,
the dichroic substance is oriented perpendicularly to the main surface,
The degree of orientation of the light absorption anisotropic layer at a wavelength of 550 nm is 0.95 or more,
The dichroic substance contains at least one dye compound having a maximum absorption wavelength in a wavelength range of 560 to 700 nm,
An optical film, wherein the dye compound is a compound represented by formula (1).
In formula (1), Ar1 and Ar2 each independently represent a phenylene group that may have a substituent or a naphthylene group that may have a substituent.
In formula (1), R1 is a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group which may have a substituent having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group, an alkylthio group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an alkylcarbonyl group, Alkyloxycarbonyl group, acyloxy group, alkylcarbonate group, alkylamino group, acylamino group, alkylcarbonylamino group, alkoxycarbonylamino group, alkylsulfonylamino group, alkylsulfamoyl group, alkylcarbamoyl group, alkylsulfinyl group, alkylureido group, an alkylphosphoamide group, an alkylimino group, or an alkylsilyl group.
-CH ₂ - constituting the alkyl group is -O-, -CO-, -C(O)-O-, -O-C(O)-, -Si(CH ₃ ) ₂ -O-Si( CH ₃ ) ₂ -, -N(R1')-, -N(R1')-CO-, -CO-N(R1')-, -N(R1')-C(O)-O-, - OC(O)-N(R1')-, -N(R1')-C(O)-N(R1')-, -CH=CH-, -C≡C-, -N=N- , -C(R1')=CH-C(O)-, or -OC(O)-O-.
When R1 is a group other than a hydrogen atom, the hydrogen atom possessed by each group is a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, -N(R1') ₂ , an amino group, -C(R1')=C(R1' )-NO ₂ , -C(R1')=C(R1')-CN, or -C(R1')=C(CN) ₂ .
R1' represents a hydrogen atom or a straight or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. In each group, when a plurality of R1's exist, they may be the same or different from each other.
In formula (1), R2 and R3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group which may have a substituent having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group, an acyl group, an alkyloxy Represents a carbonyl group, an alkylamido group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an aryl group, an arylcarbonyl group, an arylsulfonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, or an arylamido group.
-CH ₂ - constituting the alkyl group is -O-, -S-, -C(O)-, -C(O)-O-, -O-C(O)-, -C(O) -S-, -S-C(O)-, -Si(CH ₃ ) ₂ -O-Si(CH ₃ ) ₂ -, -NR2'-, -NR2'-CO-, -CO-NR2'-, -NR2'-C(O)-O-, -OC(O)-NR2'-, -NR2'-C(O)-NR2'-, -CH=CH-, -C≡C-, - It may be substituted by N=N-, -C(R2')=CH-C(O)-, or -O-C(O)-O-.
When R2 and R3 are groups other than hydrogen atoms, the hydrogen atoms possessed by each group include halogen atoms, nitro groups, cyano groups, -OH groups, -N(R2') ₂ , amino groups, -C(R2')=C(R2')-NO ₂ , -C(R2')=C(R2')-CN, or -C(R2')=C(CN) ₂ .
R2' represents a hydrogen atom or a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. In each group, when a plurality of R2's exist, they may be the same or different from each other.
R2 and R3 may be combined with each other to form a ring, or R2 or R3 may be combined with Ar2 to form a ring. The optical film according to claim 1, wherein the degree of orientation of the light absorption anisotropic layer at a wavelength of 420 nm is 0.93 or more. An image display device comprising the optical film according to claim 1 or 2. The image display device according to claim 3, wherein the display portion has a curved surface portion. An image display device capable of switching viewing angles, comprising the optical film according to claim 1 or 2. From the viewing side, it includes a first light guide plate, an optical filter element, and a second light guide plate,
The optical filter element is the optical film according to claim 1 or 2.
Backlight module that allows you to switch viewing angles.

Images